A battle over the future of the Columbus Township Fire Department continues next week. Ben Jackson, the township trustee, is currently on the losing end of an effort to keep all of the township’s paid firefighters. He says that residents of the township can keep the fire protection they have, while drastically reducing the taxes they pay for it…

Jackson says the tax cuts would be substantial…

Jackson says that two of the board members want further tax cuts, necessitating the need for the full-time firefighting staff to be reduced…

Jackson says that those board members advocating the fire department cuts have changed their reasons why, repeatedly…

Jackson says that taking this course of action would be an administrative disaster, mainly in finding enough volunteers to cover the two full-time positions that would be cut. He also argues that such a move puts township residents at undue risk, mainly during weekday, daylight hours. Jackson says that volunteers, as well as other departments, cover the township during evening hours and on weekends.

The budget adoption meeting for the township is set for Tuesday at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds Family and Arts Building.