The glass is usually half full. But I might measure it on occasion.
That’s a smart-aleck’s way of saying that he believes he’s an optimist, but there is clearly a skeptic lurking inside.
Some time last year when the Bluffton Common Council determined they would terminate the two township firefighting agreements and seek to establish a new fire protection territory, I was skeptical, knowing this would establish a new taxing unit in which the residents of the townships would much more equally foot the bill for fire protection. “Good luck,” I may have said out loud.
The main source of that doubt was rooted in personal history. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away — well, it was actually about 30 years ago in Decatur — I was serving on the Decatur Library board. It was indeed the “Decatur” library. No townships were part of the tax base but instead enjoyed what we would now call “favored status” but paying a much lower cost-per-capita for library access via outdated agreements with the library. We (the board) figured a better arrangement was way past due. (A little library humor there. Forgive me.)
We set up a meeting with the township officials and while I do not recall the exact details, it didn’t go well. Long story short, the township residents still have access to the library’s services but they pay. Some as much as $96 a year.
Now, while some might argue that literacy and a good library are essential to our long term existence as a republic and as human beings, I hesitate to too closely compare citizens’ access to a public library and citizens’ fire protection. Our local township officials may have felt a bit more urgency in addressing this issue.
And address them they did. As the process progressed, I often considered digging into the details as part of my property-tax fetish. But I never got around to it because a) I was indulging that fetish with other research, b) they moved along pretty quickly and c) I am retired, after all. Grandkids, golf and travel won.
Last week, when the special meeting to vote on the ordinance and agreements to formally establish the new Bluffton Fire Protection Territory loomed, Dave Schultz, who has been covering the process from the get-go, had another Thursday night commitment. So I pinch-hit.
My skepticism was tweaked again. Frankly, any time a room full of elected officials are in full agreement of something that will increase our taxes, our antennae should go up. Not a single dissenting or even doubting voice. As detailed in that report in our March 24 edition, everyone was not only in full agreement, there were smiles and mutual back-patting all around. If you read between the lines, they seemed downright euphoric. Hmmm. Double hmmm. The only time Congress can agree on anything, it involves spending my grandchildren’s money. Was this more of the same?
If you live in Harrison or Lancaster Township, within the city limits or not, your property taxes will go up as a result of this decision. As detailed in Dave’s March 15 report of the public hearing held the evening prior, city residents will see about a 6 percent increase, rural residents about 12.
There’s a “however” to that: “There is not a typical residential impact,” Greg Guerrettaz, the financial impact specialist is quoted as sharing, “because everyone’s (property tax situation) is different.” Don’t we know.
“So as a city property-tax payer,” I asked Mayor John Whicker earlier this week, “what am I going to get for my new 6 percent?”
“Seamless fire protection,” he answered immediately, “but in reality, it’s something that you may not actually see.” Doesn’t sound very reassuring. But there’s a “however” to this as well.
As detailed and reported in numerous stories dating back at least a couple of years, the Bluffton Fire Department has increasingly struggled to provide adequate fire protection due almost entirely to manpower shortfalls. Our paid-on-call system with a small cadre of full-time firefighters had worked well for many years — indeed decades — but that roster of “volunteers” has been shrinking until it is now at a critical mass. The department has even struggled to have an adequate number of candidates apply for open full-time positions.
“We’ve been very fortunate that it’s not happened,” John shared, “but it is very possible that we could have a structure fire and not have an adequate complement (of firefighters) show up.” Can you imagine some small children stranded on the second floor of a burning home and a ladder truck pulling up with just one fireman onboard? It could happen. That would be visible.
During their discernment process, it became very clear — I heard from every participant I talked with that Thursday evening after the documents had been approved and signed — that we — the city and its adjoining townships — could not continue to operate as is. It will, indeed, come with a cost. And we may not be finished.
“Since we began this journey,’ John shared, “I’ve had more than one elected official mention to me that what we really need is a county-wide fire territory.” The township volunteer departments are struggling with maintaining personnel as well, some more than others. The constant upgrading of equipment and training requirements further exasperates the issues.
The mayor, he wants to make clear, has no plans to pursue that, but the future may be closer than we’d like. As reported in our January 18 edition, because the Uniondale Volunteer Fire Department cannot meet some minimum staffing criteria, Union Township residents will likely see their property insurance rates go up.
Pay me now or pay me later.
There is, I think, reason for a fair amount of mutual back-patting. I appreciate city council president Scott Mentzer’s pride in the collaboration that produced the new territory. Necessity can and should bring people together. And while I also appreciate the concluding comments made by the Indianapolis attorney who “quarterbacked” the process — that we constituents should all be very pleased — there’s another “however.”
“Your constituents need to know they are well represented,” I quoted Jeff Bellamy as saying, While not disputing that, I don’t want their heads to get too big.
Constituents should be watching the budget process that begins in about five or six months. A new taxing unit will be added. The townships’ existing fire protection funds should go away but the city’s existing fire budget is not as clearly delineated. Compliments are in order, but some skepticism lurks.
Can’t seem to help it.
miller@news-banner.com
