Council Vote Means New Ambulance For Bright Vol. Fire & EMS

Monday, August 12, 2019 at 10:57 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Revenue from Dearborn County's income tax increase is helping purchase a new ambulance for the department covering most of the northern half of the county.

(Bright, Ind.) – An income tax increase which took effect this year will be used to help Bright Fire & EMS afford a new ambulance.

The Dearborn County Local Income Tax Council on Monday voted unanimously on a formal resolution approving $224,658 for the volunteer department to purchase a life squad vehicle. The funding will be awarded in 2020, according to Dearborn County Council president Liz Morris.

Last year, county council raised the county’s local income tax rate from 0.6 percent to 1.2 percent to fund public safety and jail operations. The increase went into effect on paychecks January 1. A decline in riverboat gaming revenue to the county was cited by council members as a reason to raise the local income tax rate if county services were to remain at the level they have been.

In April, the Miller Township Board voted to adopt a new Cumulative Fire Fund tax for township property owners with the intent of purchasing a new fire truck to be used by Bright Fire & EMS.

Dearborn County Income Tax Will Double To Replace Lost Riverboat Revenue