MORE: New Carlisle Council to vote on tax increase for fire department
In a special meeting the Smith Park Shelter House, council members and Chief Steve Trusty discussed the needs of the city’s fire department. Trusty cited low pay for personnel and rising costs of equipment among the department’s challenges.
“We are losing out to other area agencies in pay,” City Manager Randy Bridge said. “We also will be faced with some massive capital purchases. With those things being known, funds have dwindled, and we now face the need to put this to the voters.”
The additional tax revenue would be used to purchase and maintain fire and ambulance equipment, establish and maintain fire alarm communications and pay personnel, the ordinance says.
At $12.69 an hour, New Carlisle’s fire department offers the lowest pay in the county, Trusty said, which has contributed to a downward trend in hiring. Most departments in the area pay their paramedics between $15 and $16 an hour, he said.
New Carlisle’s fire department operates 24/7, with at least two people in the station at all times. But Trusty said fully staffing the station has been increasingly difficult.
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“The volunteer fireman is gone,” Trusty said. “Departments paying more than we do are even having trouble.”
The department also wants to purchase a new medic, Trusty said, and, at 20 years old, its fire engine has maintenance issues.
“The equipment is not cheap and everything has a shelf life,” Trusty said. “The cost of doing business has increased drastically.”
Bob Clark, a Bethel Twp. resident who owns several properties in New Carlisle, spoke to the council at the meeting to discourage them from backing the property tax increase.
Though Clark said he supports first responders and wants to see them receive higher pay, he doesn’t support raising property taxes as the means for generating more revenue. Clark cited the high number of rental properties in New Carlisle and the number of individuals, like himself, who don’t vote in the city but pay its property taxes.
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“We need to find a better way of funding,” Clark said.
Council members Ron Cobb and Aaron Leighty asked Trusty follow-up questions about the needs of the department and what could be expected if tax revenue doesn’t increase — Trusty projects stagnant salaries and loss of personnel — but the meeting, including public comments, discussion of the levy and the vote, were wrapped up in about 30 minutes.
Pending approval from the Clark County Auditor’s Office, the council expects to introduce and vote on final legislation for the proposed levy at their regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, in the Smith Park Shelter House.
The tax, effective in 2019, would be in addition to the current 10-mill limitation used by the city.
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