County Council Meeting 07 28 2026

The Boone County Indiana County Council held a public hearing on July 28, 2026, to discuss funding and operational challenges faced by the volunteer fire departments of Jamestown, Thorntown, and Advance. Fire chiefs from each department presented detailed accounts of increasing costs for equipment, training, and staffing, citing NFPA standards and rising emergency call volumes as key drivers. They emphasized the need for additional funding through a proposed Public Safety Local Income Tax (PSLIT) increase to support equipment replacement, firefighter safety gear, and recruitment and retention efforts. The council discussed the potential tax impact on residents, the complexities of fire department consolidation, and the procedural steps required for tax approval, including subsequent votes by municipal councils. The meeting concluded with plans to move forward with the PSLIT proposal, pending further municipal approvals, and a motion to adjourn was passed.