Fort Branch schedules hearings to consider joining multi-town public-safety LIT territory

Jessica Kramer, Union Township Trustee, told the council that county council already approved formation of a public-safety Local Income Tax (LIT) territory and that the township and several municipalities must hold municipal public hearings before the town can join. "If we get our portion of the public safety LIT, you guys would lose about 5%. Um which would be less than about 4,250," Kramer said, noting her estimate was calculated from the town's current local income numbers.

Kramer said the territory would combine funding for a fire/EMS territory covering multiple townships and districts and asked Fort Branch to schedule a public hearing so jurisdictional notices can be published before the Sept. 1 deadline. The council and petitioners discussed timing and availability; members settled on scheduling a public hearing for Thursday, Aug. 14 (and discussed Aug. 16 as a backup) and agreed staff will publish the required public-notice advertisement and return the matter for formal vote after the hearing.

Council members asked administrative questions about how the change would affect annual distributions and whether numbers have changed since the county action; petitioners said figures will vary year to year but that the fire territory expects a material funding increase for participating departments. The council did not take a final vote on joining the territory at this meeting; it scheduled the hearing to gather public input and comply with notice deadlines.