READ MORE: New Carlisle Council seeks tax increase for fire/EMS
“Our Fire/EMS Department has an aging fleet issue and we will need to make some drastic capital purchases over the next few years just to maintain the service levels we currently operate at, let alone try to improve,” City Manager Randy Bridge said. “With this new money, we can invest in a new ambulance and fire engine, further invest in our Fire/EMS employees to offer them more advanced training, purchase new and improved safety gear and apparatus to assist in saving lives.”
The money would also go to giving firefighter raises, Bridge said.
“(The current pay scale) makes it difficult to hire and retain the top talent,” Bridge said. “Why work in New Carlisle when you can go just a few miles away, perform the same work, and get paid multiple dollars more on the hour to do so.”
RELATED: New Carlisle votes to put tax increase on ballot for fire division
He said the city is losing qualified people to the emergence of private ambulance companies that pay more.
Bridge says he hopes voters will turn out to support the fire station.
“This is a safety-based levy which is good, but also this deals with property taxes and not income taxes,” he said. “With that being said, I am being cautiously optimistic. Hopefully, the citizens in New Carlisle will understand the need and approve this ballot measure so we can offer them better Fire/EMS services.”
About the Author