Money has been tight lately for Kristina Orr.
A single mother, the Clermont resident recently went to the Wayne Township Government Center to apply for utility assistance to help make ends meet.
“With inflation, everything’s much more expensive,” she said. “I’m just making sure that my son is getting his needs met.”
Following statewide property tax reform, folks like Orr might have more trouble getting help from the township in the future, though the township trustee hopes it doesn’t come to that. Gov. Mike Braun signed Senate Bill 1, which will reduce the amount of property taxes many local governments receive to pay for the various services they provide and work they do.
According to its projections, Wayne Township stands to take in about a million dollars less in property tax revenue each year between 2026 and 2028 due to the new law. Homeowners, meanwhile, could see up to $300 in annual property tax savings.
But that won’t happen until next year. Orr, who inherited her home from her parents three years ago, needs the township’s help now.
Like other township governments in Marion County, Wayne Township has several financial assistance programs available to low-income residents, including help paying for burial costs, disaster relief, rent and utilities. New mothers and their babies can get vouchers to help pay for baby diapers and feminine hygiene products.
Trustee Jeb Bardon thinks he can preserve those programs.
“Our goal is not to negatively impact service in any way,” the Democrat said.
Most of the lost revenue will affect the township’s fire budget, which consists mainly of property tax revenue. The township is already capped on the rate it can charge for property taxes, so it has no options to increase revenue. And officials already have cut the fire department’s budget to the bone.
Now, between making up lost tax revenue and preparing for higher-than-expected costs due to tariffs and the rising costs of health care, Bardon is worried about how the township will balance its books.
Revenue loss
According to the township’s financial projections, SB 1’s property tax changes will result in the township getting about $1.1 million less in revenue in 2026, $1.3 million less in 2027 and about $830,000 less in 2028.
The township used the majority of the funds it will lose, about $1 million per year, for the fire department.
“My frustration with what the state does is that they do what’s best for the state of Indiana, the state government, but they overlook the impact that it will have on local government, schools, police departments and fire departments,” Bardon said.
The new budget concerns come just a year after Bardon and the Wayne Township Board voted to merge its emergency medical services with Indianapolis EMS in order to save enough money to avoid a $5 million budget shortfall.
The board also voted to merge its fire department with the Indianapolis Fire Department, but the merger never happened as the two sides could not come to an agreement that made financial sense for both. Instead, Wayne Township tightened up its fire budget and chose to keep the service under local control.
Pinching every penny
Following the failed merger, Bardon and Wayne Township Fire Chief John Garino have already begun cutting costs within the fire department, including with personnel, buildings and maintenance and equipment.
For example, the fire department is saving money by refurbishing its fire trucks at the cost of $250,000 to $300,000 per truck instead of buying new ones, which start at $1 million. It also bought a reserve ladder truck with four years of service life left from the Lebanon, Pennsylvania fire department for $45,000 instead of purchasing a new one for $2 million.
“We’ve made some choices to not buy the newest, latest, greatest stuff, because the savings are there, and it’s the responsible thing to do for taxpayers,” Bardon said.
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration could be a problem, too.
Bardon said the tariffs announced in February pushed the price of a bushing bought from Canada — a part that allows firefighters to connect a smaller pipe to a larger one — from $5 to $55. The department didn’t find out about the tariff until after the part had been ordered. Bardon is worried the impact of the tariffs could add up to significant numbers over time.
“As silly as it seems, when it got to the border, UPS had to open the package, inspect, repackage and file paperwork for the cost of handling the part and the tariff associated with it,” Bardon said. “I hope we don’t see much more of that, but we will, probably, because of the nature of some of the equipment that we have.”
Bardon said health care costs also threaten to derail the plan to avoid cutting costs. The township recently entered into an agreement with a new health care provider to replace its employee health clinic. He said the agreement saved the township $50,000, but if health care costs continue to rise, service cuts may be considered.
If you need help
Wayne Township’s assistance programs are currently available. Head to the township’s website for eligibility information and other information or call 317-241-4191. Assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.
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