With the number of volunteers dwindling, three Indiana fire departments decided it was time to merge to better serve their residents.
Now, that plan -- involving South Madison Fire Territory, Andams-Markleville Fire Protection District and Lapel Stony Creek Volunteer Fire Department -- is in jeopardy. But, it's not because one or more changed their minds.
A bill currently before the state legislature could sink it.
"We're behind the eight ball to begin with and now they're pulling out the rug from under us," said Adams-Markleville Fire Chief Matt Rambo told WTHR.
Taxpayers agreed with the merger that tax rates would increase to 80 cents per $100 of assessed value to pay for full-time firefighters.
But, one section, buried about 300 pages in, states that the tax rate for new fire districts can be no higher than 40 cents. And, it makes it retroactive to January.
The fire chiefs want legislators to remove the merger cap.
South Madison Fire Chief Chris Nodine said of the paragraph: "So it was kind of hidden on us. That was kind of my frustration on this whole point. With the law being backdated, it upset me dramatically because the people actually voted for the tax increase. They want the full-time fire coverage for their fire stations."
