NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT

OF THE BLUFFTON FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY

Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the City of Bluffton, Lancaster Township and Harrison Township all of Wells County, Indiana, that joint public hearings will be held before the Bluffton City Council, Lancaster Township Board and Harrison Township Board on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bluffton City Hall, 128 East Market Street, Bluffton, Indiana 46714 to consider a proposed ordinance and resolutions for the establishment of the Bluffton Fire Protection Territory beginning with taxes payable in 2024. Additional joint public hearings of the Bluffton City Council, Lancaster Township Board and Harrison Township Board will be held on Wednesday February 20, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. and March 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bluffton City Hall, 128 East Market Street, Bluffton, Indiana 46714. After the third and final public hearing, the Bluffton City Council, Lancaster Township Board and Harrison Township Board will vote to either adopt, reject, or table the ordinances and resolutions for the establishment of the Bluffton Fire Protection Territory. If enacted, the proposed ordinance and resolutions will establish the Bluffton Fire Protection Territory between the City of Bluffton (Provider Unit) Lancaster Township and Harrison Township (Participating Units) and will provide for a uniform tax rate within the territory.

The proposed budget, property tax levy and rate for the Fire Protection Territory for the next three years are shown below. Proposed levies represent maximum amounts. Tax rates are estimates and could vary based on certified net assessed values.

2024 2025 2026

Proposed Budget:

$ 1,897,566

Fire Operating $ 1,962,796 $2,035,601

Fire Territory Equipment 

Replacement $335,000 $335,000 $335,000

Debt Payment $200,000 $200,000 $200,000

Cash Balance $284,635 $0.00 $0.00

Totals $ 2,717,201 $ 2,497,796 $ 2,570,601

2024 2025 2026

Proposed Property Tax Levy:

Fire Operating $ 2,427,862 $ 1,774,268 $ 1,842,916

Territory Debt Service $ 185,938 $ 185,938 $185,938

Fire Territory Equipment

Replacement 308,519 308,519 308,519

Totals $2,922,319 $2,268,725 $2,337,373

2024 2025 2026

Proposed Uniform Property Tax Rate:

Fire Operating $ 0.2193 $ 0.1969 $ 0.2048

Debt Service Fund 0.0201 0.0201 0.0201

Fire Territory Equipment 

Replacement 0.0333 0.0333 0.0333

Totals $ 0.2727 $ 0.2503 $ 0.2582

2024 2025 2026

Unit’s Share of Levy Based on Net

Assessed Value:

City of Bluffton [Provider] $1,860,933 $1,444,724 $1,488,439

Lancaster Township 595,861 462,593 476,590

Harrison Township 465,525 361,408 372,344

Total $2,922,319 $2,268,725 $2,337,373

A copy of the proposed ordinance and resolutions will be made available for inspection at the public hearings. Persons seeking additional information may contact Brenda Jackson, Assistant to the Mayor of the City of Bluffton, at (260) 824-1520, David Rigney, Lancaster Township at (260) 760-0501, or Kyle Hunt, Harrison Township, (260) 824-6402. If you would like to submit written comments to any of the participants, you may do so at this electronic mail address: brenda.jackson@blufftonindiana.gov

DATED this 17th Day of January, 2023

LANCASTER TOWNSHIP BOARD

HARRISON TOWNSHIP BOARD

BLUFFTON CITY COUNCIL

nb 1/19

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