Wayne Township Fire Department hiring after IFD merger talks end
INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — Merger talks between the Wayne Township Fire Department and the Indianapolis Fire Department are off the table.
Township officials made budget cuts they say will help the fire department remain independent. The township, in fact, is preparing to hire more firefighters this year.
But it’s hard to say whether the good vibes will last. Township officials are closely watching how statewide property tax reform will affect their bottom line. If Gov. Mike Braun signs a bill that cuts revenue for local governments, township officials may have to reconsider their options.
“Unless the Statehouse does something drastic, our goal is to stand on our own feet and keep going with the fire department,” said Wayne Township Trustee Jeb Bardon, a Democrat.
Beating budget troubles
Last year, Wayne Township faced a $5 million shortfall caused, according to Bardon, by years of overspending by a previous administration. The township was considering borrowing money or cutting services by the end of this year.
Left with few options, the Wayne Township Board voted to allow Bardon to begin merger talks with IFD.
But Bardon said they were unable to come to an agreement that would benefit both sides financially.
“Our costs and their revenue were not going to match, and so we all agreed to step away from the table on the fire merger,” he said.
The township balanced its budget by merging its emergency medical services with Indianapolis EMS. Wayne Township officials also made other cuts, including 11% from the fire budget. The cuts also allowed the township to put about $500,000 into its rainy day fund, the first time it’s been able to add money to it in about nine years.
The cuts have allowed the township to plan for the fire department’s future by beginning the hiring process to replace about a dozen firefighters expected to retire later this year. It’s unclear how many they will be able to hire, though.
A highly competitive process
Wayne Township’s firefighting position remains among the most lucrative in the state. Starting pay for first-year probationary firefighters begins at $68,750 with full medical benefits.
The fire department is expecting hundreds of applicants before the March 24 deadline.
“This is a highly competitive process,” said Capt. Eric Banister, the department’s spokesperson. “You may have 300 to 400 people competing for eight to 12 spots.”
Successful candidates will be placed in a hiring pool for the next two years, where they will be evaluated and hired based on available positions. Once an applicant is hired, they will be sent to a training academy, which can last from four to six months.
But they’re not hiring just yet.
State-level storm clouds
Officials want to see what happens with Senate Bill 1. The bill potentially could reduce the township’s share of property taxes by millions of dollars.
It’s likely lawmakers will debate the details of how property tax reform will look right up until the end of the legislative session this spring.
“They could turn our whole situation upside down,” Bardon said. “We’re just kind of waiting to see what they do, and we will not do any hiring until they’re done.
“It was tough to cut 11% from the fire budget, but we did it. If the state legislature tells me I gotta cut more, that’s going to be a much tougher conversation.”
How to apply
The Wayne Township Fire Department will accept applications online or in person at Wayne Township Fire Headquarters, 700 N. High School Road, until 4 p.m. March 24.
The nine-page firefighter hiring process information packet is available online.
For more information, contact the hiring coordinator by email or at 317-246-6203.
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.
