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Fire districts present 2025 budgets; county staff warn SB1 will reshape LIT in coming years
Summary
Harrison and Monroe Township fire officials presented 2025 budgets at Morgan County's public hearings while county advisers warned that statewide SB1 changes will require local governments to reset local income-tax rates by 2027, reshaping how fire funding is distributed.
Representatives of Harrison Township and Monroe Township fire districts presented 2025 budget proposals and answered questions at Morgan County’s public budget hearings.
Harrison Township officials said their 2026 budget reflects a $25,000 increase tied to a fire contract and a state-dependent growth draw that could generate roughly $23,000 if approved. Monroe Township’s budget presentation described 2026 spending of about $680,000 and noted a proposed excess levy appeal for three years with a potential permanent increase of roughly $37,000; staff said that appeal must be filed with the state and its outcome is uncertain.
County financial advisers and presenters repeatedly warned that Senate Bill 1 (SB1) is restructuring property and local income tax distribution and will require counties to reset LIT rates in 2027. Speakers said the statute allows several new countywide income-tax options (including a countywide 0.4% allocation for fire and EMS), and that shifting from property-tax–based distributions to population-based sharing will create winners and losers among fire territories, municipal departments and libraries.
Monroe Township officials also requested an additional appropriation earlier in the meeting — $75,244 — to cover building repairs, gear replacement, vehicle repairs and other operational needs; the council approved that appropriation 4-0. County staff and the districts said departments maintain reserves and have some cash on hand; presenters recommended conservative budgeting and preserving reserves while the state transition proceeds.
The council closed the public budget hearings and instructed staff to return in January with any needed supplemental appropriations after actual year-end carryovers are known.
