Information the Mergers of EMS and Fire Services 

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Q: What is going on with the Wayne Township Fire Department?

A: In December of 2023 Wayne Township began discussions about the possibility of merging its fire and Emergency Medical Service with the City of Indianapolis. This is out of concern for the financial future of the Wayne Township Fire Department and its ability to continue to provide protection for our residents in the future. As a standalone fire department, the costs for health care, retiree health coverage, updating equipment, and other critical needs will soon overtake the tax revenue the Wayne Township Fire Department District is taking in – and that’s unsustainable.    

 

It is projected that as early as 2025, Wayne Township Fire Department will have cash flow problems, forcing it to borrow money or cut services/lay off employees. To avoid that, the township’s elected leaders are exploring a merger with the Indianapolis Fire Department. Based on what we know from the five other townships that have merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department, this move will cut costs, preserve jobs, and actually reduce taxes on those currently served by the Wayne Township Fire Department.

 

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Q: Why merge/Why now?

A: There is a financial crisis on the horizon for the Wayne Township Fire Department that if left unaddressed will begin to cause significant cash flow problems as early as 2025.  Given that Wayne Township residents who live in the Wayne Township Fire Department District (western half of the township) already pay the highest tax rate for fire protection in the city and amongst the highest in the state, we can’t and won’t ask them to pay more, especially if there are efficiencies and savings to be found with a merger. The alternative is to reduce resident’s fire/EMS protection, and that’s not an acceptable option, so having this discussion only makes sense.  

 

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Q: What is the financial crisis on the horizon?

A: Costs have gone up on everything from insurance, to fuel, to maintenance and equipment, yet tax revenues have not kept up over the years. Plus, with Indiana’s property tax caps, the township is not allowed to raise taxes. Given all of this, the current model is not sustainable to ensure the protection of our residents.  

 

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Q: How will this impact Fire/EMS Service?

A: Based on the experiences of the 5 townships and the City of Beech Grove, which have all already merged, this will be a seamless transition that will only improve service and response times. All Wayne Township Fire Department stations will remain open, the equipment will stay in place and staff will all be merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, or the City of Indianapolis. 

 

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Q: What is the impact on Wayne Township taxpayers?

A: Taxpayers on the western half of the Township live in the Wayne Township Fire Department District and currently pay taxes for fire/EMS protection almost 3 times greater than those residents who live in the eastern half of the township and are in the Indianapolis Fire Department District. For residents in the Wayne Township Fire Department District, this merger could result in a 60% decrease in their fire protection tax rate. A homeowner with an assessed valuation of $100,000 may see their taxes go down by approximately $150 per year (depending upon whether the taxpayer currently receives circuit breaker credit).  

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Individual savings depend on whether the taxpayer is receiving property tax circuit breaker credit.  To determine individual impact, a taxpayer can go to in.gov/dlgf and click on the "Understanding Your Tax Bill" link.  Enter your name and address and it will show the details of your tax bill.  Under the credits section, it will say whether you are receiving circuit breaker credit.  If you all, you may not realize all of the potential savings.

 

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Q: What is the process for merging these services?

A: This is a two-step process. For the fire department merger, a resolution was introduced on January 11th and starts a public comment period of at least 30 days (it may be longer), which must include a public hearing for residents to voice their comments. Following that period, the Township Board may hold a vote on a fire department merger resolution. The Township Board will hold a public hearing to take comments from residents on February 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wayne Township Government Center located at 5401 W. Washington Street.

 

If approved, the resolution merging with the Indianapolis Fire Department would go to the Indianapolis City-County Council, where it would be assigned to a committee for another round of public input before being considered by the full council. If passed by the full council, the resolution would then go to the Mayor for his signature. If at any point in the process an unresolvable issue arises, either the township or the city can walk away from negotiations and a fire merger would not happen. 

 

Merging the Wayne Township Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services is much simpler and does not require City-County Council approval. If approved by the Wayne Township Board, it would only require an agreement between the two entities to transfer the service. The board took public comment on January 11, 2024, and will take public testimony on this proposal again at a special meeting on January 25, 2024.  The board could vote that same evening or at a future meeting.   

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Q: What do the resolutions do?

A: The resolutions give the Wayne Township Trustee the authority to negotiate with the City of Indianapolis on a potential merger. Once given the authority, the Trustee will work directly with the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, and the City of Indianapolis to work out details of the mergers. Either side can walk away from negotiations at any time and the merger would not move forward. 

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Q: Why merge EMS agencies?

A: There are several reasons why merging EMS efforts with the City of Indianapolis makes sense.  First, Wayne Township residents, like all residents of Marion County, already pay a tax to the Health and Hospital Corporation via their property taxes. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services receives funding from the Health and Hospital Corporation. Residents in the Wayne Township Fire District (western side of Wayne Township) also pay for emergency medical services (ambulances) separately through the Wayne Township Fire Department District tax rate.  That is part of the reason why residents are paying fire protection tax rates 3 times higher than their neighbors in the Eastern half of the township who are in the Indianapolis Fire Department District. A merger would reduce taxes for those living in the Wayne Township Fire District.

 

State law does not permit townships to operate standalone emergency medical services – only cities/towns can do that. Therefore, if the Wayne Township Fire Department is merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department through this process or by the Indiana General Assembly, the Wayne Township Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division is dissolved immediately. Giving the Trustee the authority to negotiate merging Wayne Township Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division with the Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services before any action on the fire department is taken is the township’s best opportunity to ensure continued service and protect employees. If given authority by the Wayne Township Board, the Trustee can work with leaders at Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services to ensure all personnel are transferred there with comparable pay, benefits, seniority, and rank. He can also negotiate to ensure ambulances and other medic equipment remain in Wayne Township under Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services management.

 

If the resolutions are not approved by the Wayne Township Board, the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Wayne Township Fire Department would likely be reduced or possibly eliminated, because the township can no longer afford the expense.

 

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Q: Why not operate a private EMS service for Wayne Township?

A: Wayne Township residents are already paying property taxes for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, so asking them to pay more for a private service does not make sense. Additionally, operating a private ambulance service in the township is not likely to be profitable. Wayne Township currently only recoups about 30% of costs associated with its ambulance service now. This is part of the reason it’s not sustainable over the long term.  Residents who use this service are often unable to pay or their insurance won’t cover costs, forcing the township into collections and legal challenges, which generate additional costs, with no additional revenue. 

 

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Q: What would be the difference in taxes if these mergers occur?

A: By merging, residents living in the Wayne Township Fire Department District could see their tax rate for fire protection decrease from its current rate of .7613 per $100 of assessed value to .2700 per $100 of assessed value.  

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Q: Where did the money go?

A: Following the plea agreements of the previous Trustee and two most recent Fire Chiefs, the township went through 3 state and one federal audit under the leadership of the new Trustee. Those audits reveal a long history of overspending by the Wayne Township Fire Department that is unsustainable for much longer.  Wayne Township Firefighters are among the highest paid in the state with extremely generous benefits. Over time, with the township’s tax base not keeping up, plus with property tax caps in place, the department has been spending more than it is taking in. That will only increase over time.

 

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Q: How does this impact response times?

A: Based on the experiences in the other 5 townships that have merged over the last 20 years, response times won’t be impacted. The point of these resolutions is to give the Trustee the authority to negotiate with the City of Indianapolis to ensure that. If given that authority, the Trustee can negotiate to keep all 5 of Wayne Township’s fire stations open and fully staffed/equipped. He can also negotiate with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services to ensure that the township’s ambulances and medic teams remain in place at the stations where they are currently housed. 

 

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Q: What is the legislation being considered at the Indiana General Assembly?

A: There is currently a bill being considered at the Indiana General Assembly that would give the Mayor the authority to take over township fire departments without the consent or input of the Trustee or Township Board. If passed, the legislation would go into effect immediately and strip Wayne Township of its power to negotiate for things like keeping fire stations open, keeping ambulances in place, and retaining employees with comparable pay, seniority, and benefits.  With the legislative session ending in March, it is important that Wayne Township acts quickly to ensure it has the power to negotiate favorable terms. 

 

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Q: What happens if the EMS merger is not approved by the Township Board

A: If a merger of the Emergency Medical Division is not approved by the board, the township would have to consider cost-saving measures such as no longer continuing its ambulance service. This would mean current employees of the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Wayne Township Fire Department would not only lose jobs, but they would not benefit from a transfer of seniority and rank that could be negotiated in a merger with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. 

 

Q: What happens if a Fire merger is approved but not an EMS merger?

A: Because Wayne Township’s Emergency Medical Services is a division of the Wayne Township Fire Department if the fire merger happens and the Emergency Medical Services merger does not, this division would likely be dissolved. The only reason Wayne Township has Emergency Medical Services is because it’s a division of the Wayne Township Fire Department. Per state law, townships in Marion County are not permitted to operate their own Emergency Medical Services. Therefore, if the fire department is merged via board action or by legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly, the Emergency Medical Services Division goes away. That is why it is critical to merge it with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services before the fire merger happens. 

 

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Q: What happens if neither a Fire nor EMS merger is approved by the board?

A: Given the financial forecast of the township, if neither is approved the township will have to take dramatic steps to meet its budget. The ambulance service the Wayne Township Fire Department provides would likely be dissolved and firefighter staffing, pay, and benefits would have to be decreased. The township would work with the local union on a new contract outlining those items.  

 

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Q: If a merger occurs, what happens to Wayne Township Fire Department civilian staff?

A: If given the authority to do so, the Trustee will negotiate with the City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Fire Department, and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services to ensure that all employees who work for the Wayne Township Fire Department are transferred over with comparable pay, rank, seniority, and benefits.  If this does not occur and the Indiana General Assembly passes Senate Bill 54 and supersedes the township, only firefighters would be given the ability to transfer over. All other employees would lose their jobs, and seniority and not be guaranteed positions or pay/benefits comparable to what they currently have. 

 

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Q: How do the employees of Wayne Township Fire Department feel about the mergers?

A: The union representing the Wayne Township Fire Department held a vote in December of 2023 with more than 70% of its members supporting a merger. The vast majority of union members participated in this vote. 

 

 

Q: Why can Beech Grove still have its own EMS?

A: State law allows cities/towns to have Emergency Medical Services but not townships. The only reason Wayne Township has Emergency Medical Services is because it’s a division of our Fire Department. If the Fire Department is merged with the Indianapolis Fire Department, the Emergency Medical Services Division of the Wayne Township Fire Department ceases to exist.  The Indianapolis Fire Department does not provide ambulance service, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services does.  That is why it is critical to merge the Wayne Township Fire Department Emergency Medical Services Division with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services before a fire department merger happens. 

 

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Q: Will the merger impact employees’ rank or benefits?

A: Based on the experiences in the other 5 townships and the City of Beech Grove that have all merged, the answer is no.  If given the power by the Wayne Township Board, the Trustee can negotiate conditions for the mergers – including ensuring that all employees are offered positions with the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Emergency Management Services, and the City of Indianapolis with comparable rank, seniority, health care, and benefits. 

 

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Q: I’ve heard that Wayne Township has put hiring new EMS staff on hold? Is it true? Why?

A: This is not true. The Wayne Township Fire Department has been steadily hiring Emergency Medical Services staff for 2 years. In fact, 5 were hired in November of 2023 and 10 more are in the process of being hired now.  Turnover is normal for any medic service, as this is a high-stress, high-demand job. 

 

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Q:  Is it true that currently the closest ambulance isn’t deployed to an emergency in Wayne Township? If so, why?

A: This is partially true.  The Wayne Township Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division bills a customer’s insurance for ambulance service.  Unless it’s a life-or-death situation, a Wayne Township Fire Department ambulance is sent to situations in the Wayne Township Fire District even if a non-Wayne Township ambulance is closer.

 

Q: What happens to the civilians employed through the Wayne Township Fire Department?

A: The resolutions being proposed to the Wayne Township Board grants the Township Trustee the authority to negotiate a merger with the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Fire Department. As a part of those discussions, civilian employees will be offered similar positions within the City of Indianapolis. 

 

Q: What happens to the Wayne Township Fire Department Merit Commission?

A: The Indianapolis Fire Department already has its own Merit Commission, so when the merger is complete the Wayne Township Fire Department Commission will cease to exist. 

 

Q: What happens to the benefits of retired firefighters if a merger is approved?

A: As a part of the negotiations between the City of Indianapolis and Wayne Township, retired firefighters will move to the retiree plans provided by the Indianapolis Fire Department and their union. Given Wayne Township’s poor financial standing and inability to meet its commitments to retirees, the move to the Indianapolis Fire Department will ensure they have the benefits they earned into perpetuity.  

 

Q: When will a merger take effect?

A: The merger of the EMS Division of the Wayne Township Fire Department with the Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, which was already approved by the Wayne Township Board, will be completed by March 17th. If the board approves the merger of the fire services, that merger would take place before the end of the 2024 calendar year. 

 

Q: What happens to the Wayne Township Fire Department’s equipment in a merger?

A: If the merger is approved all five of Wayne Township’s fire stations will remain open and the equipment will transfer to the Indianapolis Fire Department. While the equipment will have new logos on it, they will remain in place at the fire stations they are currently housed in. As time goes on IFD will add additional pieces of equipment and replace aging apparatus to support the needs of the community – something Wayne Township can no longer afford to do as a standalone fire department, 

 

Q: What will happen to Public Safety Day and the other community activities the fire department has supported?

A: As has happened in the five other townships that have previously merged, community engagement continues under the leadership of IFD. There will still be a Public Safety Day, visits to schools and community organizations, and support of community events as has always happened in Wayne Township. 

  

Q: After approving the EMS merger, the Wayne Township Board approved a resolution for a ‘payout’ for EMS employees. What is that exactly?

A: As happens with all employees who leave jobs, they are compensated for earned, but unused time off and other benefits. The board approved a resolution to allow the township to do that for departing EMS staff. 

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If you have a question about the potential mergers, please email it to info@waynetwp.org.

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