Proposed Bill Would Get Rid Of Most Fire Protection Districts
Source: Raymond Boyd / Getty
Rep. Karen Engleman (R-District 70) has authored a bill that would eliminate all fire protection districts and territories across Indiana with the exception of Marion County.
Under the current language of House Bill 1233, the county executive would assume the duties of township trustees in providing fire protection and emergency services. Counties would be tasked with adopting a fire plan, with the county emergency management director functioning as the county fire chief.
Additionally, all township governments would be dissolved except for Marion County.
The bill also stipulates that incorporated towns with less than 1,000 inhabitants would be required to report their services and operating costs no later than Nov. 1, 2025, and every four years on Nov. 1. These incorporated towns would then be dissolved by the county legislative body if the town’s operating costs were found to surpass the costs associated with delivering services to residents.
The Indiana Volunteer Firefights Association has publicly opposed the measure, warning that centralizing control under county leadership could result in slower emergency response times and diminished local input in fire protection services.
House Bill 1233 received its first reading on Jan. 9 in the House Committee on Local Government, in which Rep. Engleman is a member of.
