Bluffton council set to put security funding on November ballot

By Paula Pyzik Scott

On Monday, June 24, the Bluffton Council passed the third reading of a resolution and ordinance that will allow them to put new funding for security services – Bluffton EMS, Fire and Police – before Bluffton voters during of the November 5 ballot and to start collecting them. in 2025.

A resident attended the meeting and spoke to the council about the proposal to increase Bluffton’s income tax by 0.4 percent for a total of 1.65 percent.

Ben Hill thanked Council for the transparency of its deliberations and said the need for security services had been highlighted during recent public meetings.

KEEP ON GOING

Hill asked if the Council would consider removing the third vote to find additional funding sources that would allow for an increase of less than 0.4%. He named EMS hard billing and increased support from Richland Township.

Councilman Ben Stahl responded that additional funding for Richland Township had been considered and that the township’s tax increase “did not seem encouraging.”

Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn said strict EMS billing (direct billing to people who were not transported to the hospital) would run into the tens of thousands. The additional funding that would be created by the new income tax is $28,928,590.

The following projections regarding spending, revenue and funding for security services were presented by the Village of Bluffton at both public meetings and at the June meeting of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Projected spending on security services over 20 years

Fire vehicles EMS Vehicles Police vehicles Capital elements

$5,450,000 $2,800,000 $1,331,681 $2,859,689

Total capital

$12,441,370

Security Services Operations

$29,459,144

TOTAL EXPENSES

$41,900,514

Projected security services revenues over 20 years

Subsidies Sale of assets General Funds Transfer EMS revenue

$210,000 $250,000 $4,875,003 $7,636,921

TOTAL INCOME

$12,971,924

Planned funding for security services over 20 years

Expenses Income NEED FUNDING

$41,900,514 $12,971,924 $28,928,590

Income tax % of financing provided

0.25% $19,500,010

0.30% 23,400,012

0.35% 27,300,014

0.40% 31,200,016