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Brownsburg schedules joint Oct. 9 meeting to pursue levy appeal for new firefighters
Summary
The executive board approved scheduling a joint meeting with the town council on Oct. 9 to pursue a levy appeal that could yield up to $1,635,222 to hire firefighters for Station 134; board members noted 2028 tax changes could affect future levies.
The Town of Brownsburg executive board on Sept. 16 voted to schedule a joint meeting with the town council on Oct. 9 to pursue a levy appeal that the town estimates could be worth up to $1,635,222.
Chief Alcorn and town staff described the levy appeal as an effort to capture additional local tax dollars the town is eligible to receive, not as a new tax on residents. Board members said funds from a successful appeal would be used toward hiring firefighters and supporting the station the town bought for Station 134, but noted prior appeal awards had covered budget shortfalls rather than direct hiring.
Why it matters: The town has limited remaining opportunity to file levy appeals under current rules; officials warned that changes to local income tax laws planned for 2028 could materially change how much local governments can capture in the future. The outcome of the Oct. 9 appeal would affect staffing decisions and the timeline for bringing Station 134 online.
Discussion and scheduling Town staff said the town is eligible to request up to $1,635,222 and that last year’s appeal produced roughly half of the amount requested, with the award applied to the town’s budget shortfall. The board set Oct. 9 as the joint meeting date with the council to present the levy appeal; the deadline to complete the appeal process was identified as Oct. 21.
Public comment and contingency planning Residents pressed for clarity on how prior levy appeal funds were used and whether future awards would be dedicated to hiring. The chief acknowledged the uncertainty of receiving the full requested amount and said the town has been discussing contingency plans if the appeal is not fully successful. Board members encouraged residents to contact state lawmakers about upcoming tax law changes that could affect local funding.
Next steps The board approved scheduling the joint meeting and will present the levy appeal materials to the council on Oct. 9. The timeline requires the appeal be completed by Oct. 21; town staff said additional planning would continue in private as needed to prepare for different award scenarios.
