LAST YEAR TWO OF MARION COUNTY’S TOWNSHIPS (Indiana) merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department. Since they have done that, the townships have had a noticable decrease in budgetary costs for their fire protection.
Washington Township was facing a budget deficit last year but this year they are showing a $3 million surplus. They are considering using part of that for an additional fire station. Warren Township had a $2.7 million deficit threatening them, but eliminated it after consolidation.
Now several other townships are seriously considering joining the merger program with IFD. The state firefighters union is in favor of having the seven remaining townships join quoting a study done that claims a $14 million a year savings on payroll alone if the entire county consolidated.
Note: Beginning in 1994 the union locals in Marion County began merging with Indianapolis Local 416. Today L-416 represents all union firefighters in Marion County and a few departments in two other neighboring counties as well.
However, three of the seven twps. have trustees who are resisting the concept. This may become moot, though, because there is a bill before the state legislature to require all fire districts in Marion County to join the IFD.
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Indianapolis FD station 29
Jeremy Herb has a very good article in today’s Indianapolis Star that goes into more detail about what all is going on with the county fire districts. You can read it HERE.
Indianapolis Fire Dept. WEBSITE.
Local 416 WEBSITE.
