The Wayne Township fire brigade will remain independent

Fusion talks between the Wayne Township fire brigade and the fire brigade of Indianapolis are off the table.

The municipality officers made budget cuts, of which they say they will help the fire brigade to remain independent. In fact, the community is preparing to hire more firefighters this year.

But it is difficult to say whether the good mood will take. The municipality officers observe exactly how the nationwide reform of property tax affects their result. When Governor Mike Braun signs a draft law that lowers the income for local government, the municipality's officials may have to rethink their options.

“If the Statehouse is not drastic, it is our goal to stand on our own feet and to continue with the fire brigade,” said Wayne Township Jeb Bardon.

Beat budget problems

Last year, according to Bardon, Wayne Township had suspended a deficit of 5 million US dollars due to years of expenditure by an earlier administration. The municipality considered lending money or reducing services by the end of this year.

The Wayne Township Board was right with a few options, and Bardon to start with the merger talks with IFD.

But Bardon said they could not come to an agreement that would benefit both sides financially.

“Our costs and your income would not agree, and that's why we all agreed to withdraw from the table on the fusion of fire,” he said.

The township has compensated for its budget by merging its emergency services with Indianapolis Ems. Wayne Township officers also made other cuts, including 11% from the fire budget. The cuts also enabled the municipality to bring around 500,000 US dollars to the Rainy Day Fund when it can add money for the first time in about nine years.

The cuts have made it possible for the community to plan the future of the fire brigade by starting with the hiring process, for example to replace a dozen firefighters who are expected to retire later this year. However, it is unclear how many you can hire.

A strongly competitive process

Wayne Township's fire brigade position are among the most lucrative in the state. The starting payment for firefighters in the first year begins at $ 68,750 with full medical services.

The fire brigade expects hundreds of applicants before the deadline on March 24.

“This is a very competitive process,” said Captain Eric Banister, spokesman for the department. “300 to 400 people may have eight to 12 places.”

Successful candidates will be placed in a hiring pool for the next two years, where they are assessed and set using the available positions. As soon as an applicant is committed, you will be sent to a training academy that can take four to six months.

But they don't hire yet.

Sturm clouds at state level

Officials want to see what happens to the Senate's draft law. The legislation could possibly reduce the proportion of the municipality's property taxes by millions of dollars.

It is likely that the legislators will discuss the details of how the reform of property tax will be checked this spring by the end of the legislative meeting.

“You could turn our entire situation upside down,” said Bardon. “We are just waiting to see what they are doing and we will not do any setting until they are finished.

“It was difficult to lower 11% from the fire budget, but we did it. If the state legislator tells me that I have to cut more, it will be a much harder conversation. “

How to apply

The Wayne Township fire brigade will take over in the Wayne Township Fire Headquarters, 700 N. High School Road, until 4 p.m. in the Wayne Township Fire Headquarters, until March 24.

The new fire brigade setting process information package is available online.

Further information is available from the hiring coordinator by email or at 317-246-6203.

The Spiegel -indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers West Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on bluesky at @enriquesaz.bsky.social.

Related

Publish this story again

Publish our articles for free, online or in printed form, under a creative commons license.

Would you like to know what's really going on in our city? Register for the Mirror Indy newsletter!

If you click on login, confirm that you agree to our general terms and conditions.