Sec. 6. (a) To establish or expand a fire protection territory, the legislative bodies of each unit or fire protection district:

(1) desiring to establish a fire protection territory; or

(2) desiring to expand an existing fire protection territory by:

(A) becoming a participating unit in; or

(B) approving the addition of a participating unit in;

an existing fire protection territory;

must adopt an ordinance (in the case of a county or municipality) or a resolution (in the case of a township or a fire protection district).

     (b) The ordinance or resolution must meet the following requirements:

(1) The ordinance or resolution is identical to the ordinances and resolutions adopted by the other units or fire protection districts desiring to establish or expand the proposed territory.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the ordinance or resolution is adopted after January 1 but before April 1. However, for an ordinance or resolution adopted in 2023, the ordinance or resolution must be adopted after January 1, 2023, and before August 2, 2023.

(3) The ordinance or resolution authorizes the unit or fire protection district to become a party to an agreement for the establishment of a fire protection territory or the expansion of an existing fire protection territory.

(4) This subdivision does not apply to an ordinance or resolution adopted in 2023. An ordinance or resolution is adopted after the legislative body holds at least three (3) public hearings to receive public comment on the proposed ordinance or resolution as follows:

(A) At least one (1) public hearing must be held at least thirty (30) days before the legislative body votes on the adoption of the ordinance or resolution. At the hearing, the legislative body shall make available to the public the information required by subsection (c) concerning the fiscal impact of the proposed fire protection territory.

(B) At least two (2) public hearings must be held after the public hearing in clause (A), with the last public hearing held not later than ten (10) days before the legislative body votes on the adoption of the ordinance or resolution.

The legislative body must give notice of the hearings under IC 5-3-1.

(5) This subdivision applies to an ordinance or resolution adopted in 2023. An ordinance or resolution is adopted after the legislative body holds at least three (3) public hearings to receive public comment on the proposed ordinance or resolution as follows:

(A) At least one (1) public hearing must be held at least twenty-five (25) days before the legislative body votes on the adoption of the ordinance or resolution. At the hearing, the legislative body shall make available to the public the information required by subsection (c) concerning the fiscal impact of the proposed fire protection territory.

(B) At least two (2) public hearings must be held after the public hearing in clause (A), with the last public hearing held not later than five (5) days before the legislative body votes on the adoption of the ordinance or resolution.

The legislative body must give notice of the hearings under IC 5-3-1.

     (c) The legislative body must make available to the public the following information:

(1) The property tax levy, property tax rate, and budget to be imposed or adopted during the first year of the proposed territory for each of the units or fire protection districts that would participate in the proposed territory. If a property tax rate is to be implemented over a number of years as provided in section 7(c) of this chapter, the information under this subdivision must include the amount of the intended property tax rate after having been fully implemented.

(2) The estimated effect of the proposed reorganization in the following years on taxpayers in each of the units or fire protection districts that would participate in the proposed territory, including the expected property tax rates, property tax levies, expenditure levels, service levels, and annual debt service payments.

(3) The estimated effect of the proposed reorganization on other units in the county in the following years and on local option income taxes, excise taxes, and property tax circuit breaker credits.

(4) A description of the planned services and staffing levels to be provided in the proposed territory.

(5) A description of any capital improvements to be provided in the proposed territory.

     (d) The notice required for a hearing under subsection (b)(4) and (b)(5) shall include all of the following:

(1) A list of the provider unit and all participating units in the proposed territory.

(2) The date, time, and location of the hearing.

(3) The location where the public can inspect the proposed ordinance or resolution.

(4) A statement as to whether the proposed ordinance or resolution requires uniform tax rates or different tax rates within the territory.

(5) The name and telephone number of a representative of the unit or fire protection district who may be contacted for further information.

(6) The proposed levies and tax rates for each participating unit, and whether a tax rate will be implemented over a number of years under section 7(c) of this chapter.

     (e) The ordinance or resolution adopted under this section shall include at least the following:

(1) The boundaries of the proposed territory.

(2) The identity of the provider unit and all other participating units desiring to be included within the territory.

(3) An agreement to impose:

(A) a uniform tax rate upon all of the taxable property within the territory for fire protection services; or

(B) different tax rates for fire protection services for the units or fire protection districts desiring to be included within the territory, so long as a tax rate applies uniformly to all of a unit’s or fire protection district’s taxable property within the territory.

(4) An agreement as to how the property that is held by the territory will be disposed of if:

(A) a participating unit withdraws from the territory; or

(B) the territory is dissolved.

(5) The contents of the agreement to establish the territory.

     (f) An ordinance or a resolution adopted under this section takes effect July 1 of the year the ordinance or resolution is adopted.

As added by P.L.37-1994, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.240-2001, SEC.3; P.L.47-2007, SEC.2; P.L.49-2012, SEC.1; P.L.255-2017, SEC.43; P.L.14-2021, SEC.1; P.L.95-2022, SEC.7; P.L.236-2023, SEC.208.