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Council approves budget second reading and levy appeals after SAFER grant denial
Summary
Council approved second reading of the 2026 town budget, voted to roll an excess-levy appeal into the town budget and approved a separate fire‑territory levy appeal to hire firefighters after the SAFER grant was not awarded; finance staff estimated roughly $70–$75 annually on a $350,000 home per 3¢ per $100 levy.
The Town of Brownsburg council approved second reading of the town and fire territory 2026 budget during a public hearing on Oct. 9, 2025, and voted separately to pursue excess‑levy appeals to restore planned fire staffing after a federal grant application failed.
Town Manager Deb Cook said the budget presented at the first reading remained unchanged and was posted for several weeks. During the public hearing several residents raised concerns about the town pursuing the "maximum levy" and the budget’s tax impact if related resolutions pass.
Finance staff and commenters confirmed the town and fire territory did not receive a SAFER grant that had been anticipated for firefighter hiring. Fire Chief Larry Alcorn asked the council to approve a levy appeal for the fire territory to hire firefighters and open Station 134; he said the requested levy amount was $1,600,000 but circuit‑breaker reductions will lower the realized revenue to about $1.213 million and likely fund roughly 12 firefighters instead of 15.
Town finance staff (Clay) explained the tax effect of the excess‑levy appeal to the audience: "If you approve the town excess levy appeal, it's gonna be it's going to be an increase of around $3.03 cents per 100 of assessed valuation. On a $350,000 home, that equates to about $70 -seventy 5 dollars additional a year," he said, adding that the fire territory appeal produces a similar incremental effect.
Council voted to approve Ordinance 2025‑515 on second reading (budget) and then approved Resolution 2025‑519 to roll the town excess levy into the budget. The council separately approved Resolution 2025‑520, the fire‑territory levy appeal, by voice vote after Chief Alcorn’s presentation.
Council also approved Resolution 2025‑518, an additional appropriation of $200,000 for the fire territory to cover overtime ($100,000), attorney fees ($50,000) and vehicle/equipment repairs ($50,000). Public commenters urged clarity about the long‑term cost if grant funds are not renewed and warned of impacts to other taxing entities should the appeals fail and the amounts be reallocated.
Councilors said deadlines constrained action: the budget must be finalized in short order to meet county and state filing dates and the budget cannot be increased once submitted. No council member requested postponement of the budget ordinance; second reading passed and third reading and final adoption were scheduled for the next council meeting.
