Patio Pondering: $1,126,462.39 — Before You Vote on May 5th
A few months ago I wrote about more than $2 million in fire protection funds that were supposed to be returned to the taxing units when the Northeast Allen County Fire Territory dissolved. Since then, I have heard from neighbors with two very different reactions. Some are angry. Some told me things aren’t as bad as I made them sound.
Let me share what the numbers say.
As of December 31, 2025, the balance remaining in the former Fire Territory fund is $1,126,462.39. That balance sits 24 months after the Fire Territory was disbanded. Twenty-four months after Indiana Statute required those funds to be returned to the participating entities.
That $1,126,462.39 was paid by taxpayers for fire protection. Instead, those funds have been held hostage by Cedar Creek Township, not being used for fire protection, and in some cases being used as a slush fund to purchase things like a new township office building.
Because those funds were not transferred, the Fire District had to borrow money just to keep operations running. That cost us interest, interest we should never have paid. Those funds could be doing much good protecting our community, adding needed equipment, equipping ambulances, and making sure the citizens of our community get the first response protection they not only deserve but paid for.
That really chaps my lips.
Some have suggested that we should be grateful for the era of volunteer fire departments. That an $800,000 budget built on hog roasts and bake sales was a simpler, more responsible time.
It is 2026. The lives and property in our townships are too valuable for that.
I want to be clear about what I do not know. A second audit of these funds is currently underway. It has not been completed. I do not know what it will find. I am not accusing anyone of a crime. What I am saying is that more than a million dollars collected for fire protection has not reached its destination, a second audit is open, and there are questions that remain unanswered.
The Cedar Creek Township Advisory Board will hold its next meeting on April 29th. If you want answers, show up. Bring your neighbors. These are public meetings and this is your money.
The May 5th primary is one week away. Some of the people on the ballot have sat on these boards throughout this entire period. I am not telling you how to vote. I am telling you to know the number before you do.
$1,126,462.39.
To help taxpayers understand the full picture, you can view the reports taken directly from the Indiana Gateway site here: