FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO) — Allen County Councilwoman Lindsay Hammond is calling for a potential one-year delay in the launch of the county’s proposed unified fire and EMS district, citing concerns about property tax increases, state approval and the financial risks of moving forward before key questions are resolved.
The proposed district is scheduled to begin operating January 1, 2027, with a budget of nearly $49 million. Supporters say consolidation would improve emergency response coverage and add approximately 30 first responders.
Hammond told WOWO’s Kayla Blakeslee that she supports reliable fire and EMS service throughout Allen County and is not opposed to consolidation. However, she said County Council has a responsibility to scrutinize the plan’s financial details and ensure taxpayers are not being asked to provide more funding than necessary…