Toll Road responders hope to get reimbursement for efforts

Tools

One of many accidents on the Toll Road Friday, December 26. State police reported dealing with over 50 accidents resulting from extremely icy morning conditions. Many of the fire departments along the Toll Road are already financially strapped, and budgets are even tighter when no money comes pay for their efforts. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jan 1, 2009 at 6:01 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2009 at 4:12 PM EST

Some Indiana lawmakers are looking into a new bill that would require the owners of the Indiana Toll Road to reimburse emergency crews for services. Right now it’s owned by a for-profit organization that does not pay them for responding to crash scenes.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Many of the fire departments along the Toll Road are already financially strapped as the result of lost revenue from a cap on property taxes. Budgets are even tighter when no money comes to pay for their efforts on the Toll Road.

On any given year, about a half a dozen fire departments in Elkhart County respond to toll road accidents and incidents.

“I believe we had between twelve and fifteen calls last year, Elkhart did. I know surrounding communities have had more than that,” said Chief Mike Compton of the Elkhart Fire Department.

“It does kind of vary. Roughly we go anywhere from twenty to twenty five a year,” said Chief Rich Newman of the Cleveland Township Fire Department.

Each run they make uses fuel, supplies, and sometimes extra manpower that they shoulder the cost for.

The current Toll Road owners do not pay property taxes like other businesses, so they do not contribute to funding for emergency services.

Departments along the Toll Road, as well as those around the state, are all dealing with the loss of revenue as the result of the recent cap that was placed on property taxes.

Many favor the idea of getting reimbursement for their efforts.

“It would certainly be beneficial to the communities that do respond to the Toll Toad, if they could have some monetary contributions from that consortium to offset our costs, given the economic times.” said Compton.

“I think it really needs to be looked into…a lot of thought put into it,” said Newman.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

Current Temp 46.6

More Weather

WSBT Weather

More Weather

On Demand

iPhone
Get the WSBT News and Irish Sports Report apps for your iPhone! Read more »
On DVD
Order a DVD of a WSBT news story! Read more »
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter! Read more »
Facebook
Connect with us on Facebook! Read more »
WSBT E-News
Daily StormTracker e-mails right to your Inbox! Read more »
Video On Demand
Miss a story on WSBT News? Watch it here! Read more »
CBS Shows
Watch CBS shows and news online, free! Read more »
WSBT Alert
Breaking News & Weather right to your cell phone! Read more »
Mobile
WSBT News on the go for your cell phone or PDA. Read more »
RSS Feeds
Get news and updates as soon as they're published. Read more »

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.