In Indiana, one of the primary duties of the Township Trustee is providing fire protection andemergency services in our communities. In Washington Township this service is contractedto the Brown County (Nashville) Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD). The Town ofNashville also contracts to BCVFD for the same services. The Brown County VFD is fullyequipped with a wide array of specialty vehicles and equipment such as fire engines, anaerial truck, a rescue truck, a brush truck, and a Polaris Ranger, in order to respond to avariety of situations ranging from house fires, field and brush fires, car wrecks, medicalemergencies, hazardous materials incidents, lost persons, smoke and carbon monoxidealarms.

Currently, we rely on a small group of volunteer firefighters to respond to emergency calls inour Township. However, these volunteers are community members just like you and meand often have full time jobs, families, and other commitments which limit their ability torespond. in addition, the pool of volunteers willing to put the time and effort necessary intothe department is rapidly shrinking and new volunteers are increasingly difficult to find.

Operating a fire department can be an expensive endeavor. For the past several years theoperating costs have ranged from $55,000 to $60,000. Through the BCVFD's contractualagreements with the Town of Nashville and Washington Township last year the FireDepartment received $46,000. This leaves the Fire Department responsible to raise fundsto cover the shortfall just to pay monthly bills. .

THE PROBLEM:Fire and emergency services as it is currently being provided within Washington Townshipwill cease to become sustainable within the next five years.

WHY:1. In 2015 the annual emergency runs the department responded to was over 600. Two-thirds were between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday when mostof our volunteers are at work. Due to changes in our volunteers' personal lives, the numberof available volunteers during daytime hours is, at best, two. As a result, we have had to cutcertain services that we were not contracted for but have traditionally provided in the past.

2. The number of available Washington Township volunteers has been shrinking due to theincreasing age of long-time volunteers. Also, recruiting/retaining new volunteers isconsiderably more difficult due to the increasing amount of training required in order tobecome a volunteer.

3. The cost of operating the Fire Department increases every year. The funds received arenot increasing at a sustainable rate.

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WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?Option 1: Ask Brown County Commissioners to fully re-establish the Fire District.

This option would be unfeasible as the majority of the tax revenue raised would come fromWashington Township. However, all of the revenue received from all three townships wouldhave been distributed evenly among the four fire departments in the district. This meansWashington Township tax dollars paid for fire protection would be distributed to other firedepartments not providing first response services in Washington Township. This optionwould allow a larger operating budget, but will do little to solve the problem of limiteddaytime staff. In addition, the district board members are appointed by the Commissioners.The three townships in the district are represented by only two of the commissioners. Thethird commissioner represents Hamblen Township, which is not in the "County-WideDistrict". This means one of the commissioners would have a say in who sits on the districtboard but has no representation responsibility.

Option 2: Raise Washington Township taxes to fund the Fire Department.

This option would be unfairto the residents of Washington Township. Washington Townshipresidents pay a fire tax to support the fire department. However, the Town of Nashvilleresidents do not pay a fire tax and the town is unable to establish a fire tax as they arecurrently at their maximum levy limit. Township residents would pay for additional fireprotection that the town would also receive, either for considerably less or for free.

Option 3: Contract with other entities for fire protection and emergency services, such asneighboring townships.

Neighboring townships are plagued with the same troubles as BCVFD. The availablevolunteers are limited during daytime hours. In addition, initial response times woulddrastically increase as the volunteers are responding from greater distances. Townshipresident's insurance premiums would likely increase as the responding departments arefurther away.

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OUR SOLUTION: FO I G A FIRETERRITORYThis arrangement 0 ave all Washington Township residents coming together toaccomplish more toge er than what we can separately. This is our opportunity to positivelyimpact a long term s stainable solution for fire and emergency services for the benefit ofour community.

Goal 1: Improve fire and emergency response for YOU, our friends and neighbors-Staff and equip the Fire Station in its current location in Nashville. At least fourfirefighter/EMTfhazmat personnel will respond immediately from this location to calls duringdaytime hours.- BCVFD volunteers will continue to respond as they do now.

Goal 2: Advocate for YOU, the Washington Township taxpayers- Washington Township/Town of Nashville public officials and key volunteer firefighterpersonnel will lead the way in developing the structure of the Territory for the benefit ofWashington Township residents.- Washington Township and the Town of Nashville will have EQUAL representation on theExecutive Committee which will oversee the business of the Territory.- The Executive Committee will recommend an annual budget, which will be approved bythe Washington Township Board.- The Executive Committee will be charged with long term planning and strategic decisionsfor the Territory so Washington Township's needs are represented.

Goal 3: Protect YOUR tax dollars- Territory budgets will be based on anticipated expenses so every tax dollar is used wisely.- Washington Township will retain the rights to current assets such as buildings, vehicles,and equipment.- Strateqic planning and budget for replacement of worn-out or outdated equipment for theBCVFD Fire Station.

Goal 4: Secure our community legacy- BCVFD volunteers will continue to be active in the community and will be able to offermuch-loved community events such as the July 4th Hog Roast, Fire Prevention Festival andthe Fish Tent fish fry.- Fundraisers will always be a necessary and integral function of the department. Taxdollars will keep the lights on and gas in the tanks, allowing the department to usefundraising money now spent on fuel and electricity on life saving equipment and gear.- It is becoming standard for fire departments to have a gear washer and two sets of gearfor each firefighter. Toxic chemicals from modern construction and manufacture causecancer and cardiovascular disease, and must be washed from gear immediately to savefirefighter lives.- Under current conditions, with fundraiser money going to operating costs, your firefightersare lucky to have one set of gear that fits well.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:1. What if I don It have good water service in my area?BCVFD, with the assista ce of Fruitdale, Hamblen Township and Van Buren Township FireDepartments, has demonstrated that they can provide the minimum 250 gallons per minuteby shuttling tanker trucks regardless of available water supply. In addition, fire foam issuitable for various response types such as car accidents and house fires and requiressignificantly less water to be effective.

2. My home insurance rates have doubled this year because BCVFD doesn't neve amanned station. Will my insurance rates go down?While we cannot offer specific answers due to the underwriting policies of various insurancecompanies, the Insurance Service Office (ISO) rates fire departments based on factors suchas full time personnel and the ability to respond. It is anticipated that after a Territory formsthat Washington Township's ISO rating will improve and insurance rates will go downsubsequently. PLEASE NOTE: Your rate impact might vary depending on your insurancecompany and their policies.

3. How much is this going to cost?The budget for the Territory is yet to be decided but we have a reasonable estimate of costsbased on BCVFD's actual historical costs. The territory's budget would cover existingoperating costs (currently covered by taxes and fundraising) and employment of paidfirefighters. In spring 2017, we need to establish the maximum levy that would be thehighest amount that could be collected in property taxes. As we move forward in thisprocess we will be determining a more accurate budget for 2017.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Territory plans and budgetsA Fire Territory is an opportunity for various governmental entities to combine together tobecome a new taxing unit that is specific to each community's needs. This opportunity isavailable only between January 1 and March 31 of each year. The establishment process isset forth by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and has very strictrequirements that must be met in order for it to be approved for the following fiscal year.

The first step for forming a fire territory includes determining what units will be involved andthe overall vision/goals for the Territory. For the Washington Township Fire Territory, theplan is to have one staffed station during daytime hours Monday through Friday.

Several years into the future, it may be possible to place unmanned satellite stations inGnaw bone and Belmont. These would allow any volunteers living in those areas to respondquickly to local emergencies, potentially further reducing township residents' insurancepremiums. Additional, specialized services could be added if desired by residents. After theplan is in place, units determine a budget for the new entity and set the maximum tax ratethat would ever be levied to the taxpayer.

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CVFD Budget Proposal 1

Chief ~alary (base)Assistant Chief salary (base)

Firefighter (PT)Ch'iefinsurance/benefi 5

Assistant Chief insurance/benefits (est.)~lrefighter insurance/benefitsJ~~ti;)Overtime

Operating budget 65,000

Total Salaries 193,800 193,800

Operating balance (territory requirement) 12,000Capital improvement fund 40,000

Total operating fund 117,000 117,000

Total to fund Fire Department 310,800

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CVFD Budget Proposal 2

Operating budget 65,000

CfliefS~farY·(base)Assistant Chief salary (base),~jreN~hter (PT)Firefighter (PT)FrriHighter (PT)Chief insurance/benefi s (est.)Assistant Chief insurance/benOvertime

Total Salaries 190,400 190,400

Operating balance (territory requirement) 12,000Capital improvement fund 40,000

Total operating fund 117,000 117,000

Total to fund Fire Department 307,400

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BCVFDBudget Proposal 3

169,600

70,00012,00050,000

132,000

Total Sala Ies 169,600

getalanee (territory requirement)rovement fund

operating fund 132,000

tal to fund Fire Department 301,600