NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WAVE) – Residents in Floyd County, Indiana could be shelling out more for their safety. Council members are considering new local income taxes to help fund EMS services.
“We have to figure out a way to fund it,” council member Dale Bagshaw said. “This is one way of funding it: through a tax.”
This stems from the county’s contracts with New Chapel Fire and EMS, which expired at the end of May. Highlander Fire District and Ameripro EMS have been contracted through 2026, however President Danny Short says the tab is only picked up through 2024.
“We’re paid through both services through this year, so that’s funded,” Short said. “It’s the next two years under contract that we need to worry about.”
Three options were presented to fund fire and medical Tuesday night. The first is a 0.5% Public Safety local income tax, the second is a 0.2% Emergency Medical Service local income tax, and the third is a combination of both.
Estimated examples provided by members of the board during Tuesday’s public hearing are roughly $100 dollars annually for households making $50,000.
Short says the EMS tax is the most likely and would bring in roughly $5 million at the max 0.2% rate. Some residents voiced opposition and concern over the additional cost.
“That’s nothing to some people, but that’s a lot to a lot of people,” one man said during public comment.
“I would like to see what is your vision, and a vision is a place you want to be ultimately, and what is your plan to get there,” another man said. “All I’m seeing is turf wars and egos, and that’s not the way to get there.”
Short says people should expect the board to find that vision fairly soon.
“It’s a game of, you know, funding all the time,” Short said. “All the time.”
The ordinance was ultimately tabled by the council. Their next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10.
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