# Commissioners approve ordinance creating a new fire tax district for Otter Creek Township

## What happened
Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance establishing a fire protection district that covers all of Otter Creek Township except the part that already lies inside Terre Haute's city limits, attorney Richard Shagley told the board on behalf of the township. ([4:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=258), [4:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=291)) The new district becomes its own taxing entity with its own property tax levy, replacing the township trustee's budget as the way the fire department pays for training, paid firefighters, and equipment upkeep. ([6:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=379)) A township official confirmed this is a new, separate levy rather than an increase folded into an existing tax. ([8:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=531))

## The outcome
Approved on a voice vote; no per-member tally was recorded.

## Sources
- [Ordinance and district boundaries explained, 4:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=258)
- [Covers all of township except city portion, 4:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=291)
- [New taxing entity funds training, staff, equipment, 6:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=379)
- [Confirmed as a new levy, not an existing-tax increase, 8:51](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=531)
- [Voice vote approval, 8:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gKrrpK8ho&t=536)

*Also known as: Otter Creek fire district · Otter Creek Township fire protection district · new fire tax/levy for Otter Creek Township*