COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus Township officials are reviewing options to reduce taxes, including eliminating full-time firefighters. Advisory board members say tax reduction is a priority because the township’s tax rate is about five times higher than any other township in the county.
Columbus Township trustee Ben Jackson has proposed consolidating a captain and mechanic position to cut costs. Jackson also says a fire loan of $330,000 was recently paid off that will make $117,000 a year available to fund fire department operations. In addition, the East Columbus Independent Fire Department has agreed to cut contract payments due to them from Columbus Township. Trustee Ben Jackson says these cuts would lower property taxes next year by more than 30 percent.
Making the Columbus Township Fire Department strictly part-time would save $220,000 per year. Advisory board members Jimmy Green and Michael Shireman are committed to cutting taxes.
The move to part-time firefighters has township trustee Ben Jackson, fire chief Dave Thompson, and some community members concerned about response time. Increased response times could mean increased property damage, and it may jeopardize public safety in medical emergencies and personal injury incidents.
A final decision is expected September 20.
