NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF HEARING ON PROPOSED FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND FOR THE ELLETTSVILLE-RICHLAND TOWNSHIP FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY   Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, that the Ellettsville Town Council and Richland Township Board will consider at the Ellettsville Town Hall located at 1150 W Guy McCown Drive, Ellettsville, Indiana, at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the establishment of a Fire Protection Territory Equipment Replacement Fund on behalf of Ellettsville-Richland Township Fire Protection Territory (“Fire Territory”) under the provisions of Indiana Code IC 36-8-19-8.5 for all uses as set out in IC 36-8-19-8.5.   The establishment of an Equipment Replacement Fund is occurring in connection with the creation of the Fire Territory. The Provider Unit of the Fire Territory shall be the Town of Ellettsville. The Participating Units in the Fire Territory shall be the Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township.   The tax will be levied on all taxable real and personal property within the taxing district and will not exceed $0.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation. The proposed fund will be levied beginning with taxes due and payable in the year 2027. Taxpayers appearing at such hearing shall have the right to be heard thereon. The proposed tax rate for the Equipment Replacement Fund is subject to certification by the Department of Local Government Finance.   Within 30 days after the date of adoption of the Equipment Replacement Fund by the Ellettsville Town Council and the Richland Township Board will publish a Notice of Adoption. Twenty-five (25) or more taxpayers with taxable property located in the Town of Ellettsville or Richland Township may file a petition with the Monroe County Auditor no later than noon 30 days after the publication of this Notice setting forth their objections to the proposed cumulative fund. Upon the filing of the petition, the County Auditor shall immediately certify the same to the Department of Local Government Finance, at which point the Department will fix a date for and conduct a public hearing on the proposed cumulative fund before issuing its approval, disapproval, or modification thereof.   Dated: February 19, 2026   ELLETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL RICHLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD  ?hspaxlp 2.19,2.26.26