Sec. 4.5. (a) This section applies to a township that provides fire protection or emergency services or both to a municipality in the township under section 3(b) or 3(c) of this chapter.

     (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), with the consent of the township legislative body, the township executive may pay the expenses for fire protection and emergency services in the township, both inside and outside the corporate boundaries of participating municipalities, from any combination of the following township funds, regardless of when the funds were established:

(1) The township firefighting and emergency services fund under section 4(a)(1) of this chapter.

(2) The cumulative building and equipment fund under IC 36-8-14.

(3) The debt fund under sections 6 and 6.5 of this chapter.

(4) The rainy day fund established under IC 36-1-8-5.1.

     (c) If a township establishes a township firefighting fund and a township emergency services fund described in section 4(a)(2) of this chapter, and with the consent of the township legislative body, the township executive may pay the expenses for fire protection from the township firefighting fund and emergency services from the township emergency services fund, both inside and outside the corporate boundaries of participating municipalities.

     (d) Subject to the levy limitations contained in IC 6-1.1-18.5, the tax rate and levy for the township firefighting and emergency services fund or the combined levies for the township firefighting fund and the township emergency services fund (as applicable), the cumulative building and equipment fund, or the debt fund is to be in an amount sufficient to pay all costs attributable to fire protection or emergency services that are provided to the township and the participating municipalities that are not paid from other available revenues. The tax rate and levy for each fund shall be established in accordance with the procedures set forth in IC 6-1.1-17 and apply both inside and outside the corporate boundaries of participating municipalities.

     (e) The township executive may accept donations for the purpose of firefighting and emergency services. The township executive shall place donations in the township firefighting and emergency services fund established under section 4(a)(1) of this chapter, or if applicable, the township firefighting fund established under section 4(a)(2)(A) of this chapter if the purpose of the donation is for firefighting, or the township emergency services fund established under section 4(a)(2)(B) of this chapter if the purpose of the donation is for emergency services. A person may donate partial payment of a purchase of firefighting or emergency services equipment made by the township.

As added by P.L.269-1993, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.1-1994, SEC.181; P.L.1-1994, SEC.182; P.L.37-1994, SEC.2; P.L.54-1996, SEC.4; P.L.255-2017, SEC.39; P.L.236-2023, SEC.204.