Council approves Vernon Township Fire Department 2026 budget and growth appeal to add staff and a second medic unit

Fortville’s council voted to approve the Vernon Township Fire Department’s revised 2026 budget of $7,799,023 and separately approved a growth appeal to the maximum levy to support staffing increases and service changes.

Chief Mark Elder told the council that about 83% of the proposed budget is for personnel and that approving the budget would allow the department to hire six additional staffers. “If we get this approved, this will enable us to hire six more people, which we desperately need,” Elder said, adding the hires would allow the department to staff a dedicated second medic truck instead of splitting crews between an engine and an ambulance.

Elder said runs were up about 10% from the previous year and that 20%–25% of calls now involve simultaneous incidents, leaving the department reliant on mutual aid when multiple calls occur. “We just need that additional medic and service with the dedicated crew to be able to keep servicing the community,” he said.

Council moved and approved the budget after discussion; a separate motion to approve the growth appeal for the maximum levy was also passed. Staff will circulate the approved documents for signatures and proceed with budget implementation steps.

The budget vote commits the town’s approved share of the township territory budget and enables recruitment for the additional positions; council members asked for ongoing updates on run volumes and the department’s ability to staff the dedicated medic unit once hires are complete.