NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE LIBERTY GREENE FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY EXPANSION TO INCLUDE CENTRE TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE LIBERTY GREENE FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY EXPANSION TO INCLUDE CENTRE TOWNSHIP Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers within the current Liberty Greene Fire Protection Territory and proposed expansion in Centre Township which includes Liberty Township, Greene Township, and the Town of North Liberty, and also the taxpayers of Centre Township, all of St. Joseph County, Indiana that joint public hearings will be held to consider the expansion of the Liberty Greene Fire Protection Territory, to be known as the South Central Fire Territory (or another name agreed by the entities), to add Centre Township to the territory all before the Liberty Township Board, Greene Township Board, North Liberty Town Council and Centre Township Board in joint session on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the North Liberty Community Center, 300 S Main St, North Liberty, IN 46554 to consider proposed resolutions and ordinances for the amendment and expansion of the Liberty Greene Fire Protection Territory to add Centre Township to the Territory, which is already composed of the Liberty Township, Greene Township and the Town of North Liberty, beginning with taxes payable in 2027 which is proposed to result in reestablishing relevant uniform tax rates for all units in the Territory. Additional joint public hearings of the Liberty Township Board, Greene Township Board, North Liberty Town Council and Centre Township Board will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. respectively at the North Liberty Community Center, 300 S Main St, North Liberty, IN 46554. After the third and final public hearing, Liberty Township Board, Greene Township Board, North Liberty Town Council and Centre Township Board will vote to either adopt, reject, or table the resolutions and ordinances for the expansion of the Liberty Greene Fire Protection Territory on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the North Liberty Community Center, 300 S Main St, North Liberty, IN 46554. If enacted, the proposed ordinances and resolutions will expand the Liberty Greene Fire Protection Territory and rename it to the South Central Fire Territory (or another name agreed by the entities) between Liberty Township (Provider Unit), Greene Township, the Town of North Liberty, and Centre Township (Participating Units) and will provide for a uniform tax rate within the territory. The proposed budget, levy, and tax rate for the proposed Fire Protection Territory is as follows: South Central Fire Protection Territory First Year Proposed Operating Budget: $6,412,649 First Year Proposed Operating Levy: $6,094,053 First Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Budget: $323,175 First Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Levy: $303,175 First Year Proposed Operating Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.6694 First Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.0333 Second Year Proposed Operating Budget: $6,935,280 Second Year Proposed Operating Levy: $6,616,684 Second Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Budget: $332,551 Second Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Levy: $312,551 Second Year Proposed Operating Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.7056 Second Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.0333 Third Year Proposed Operating Budget: $7,282,044 Third Year Proposed Operating Levy: $6,963,448 Third Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Budget: $341,638 Third Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Levy: $321,638 Third Year Proposed Operating Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.7209 Third Year Proposed Equipment Replacement Tax Rate (Uniform): $0.0333 Units Share of Levy Based on Net Assessed Value: 2027 2028 2029 Liberty Township $1,451,596 $1,572,314 $1,653,060 Greene Township 1,733,669 1,877,845 1,974,282 Centre Township 2,596,711 2,815,659 2,957,103 Town of North Liberty 615,252 666,417 700,641 Total Levy $6,397,228 $6,929,235 $7,285,086 A copy of the proposed ordinances and resolutions will be made available for inspection at the public hearings. Persons seeking additional information may contact Emily Dittmar, Liberty Township Trustee at (575) 656-4587, Breanne Goodsell, Greene Township Trustee at (574) 289-9942, Vicki Kitchen, the Town of North Liberty Clerk Treasurer at (574) 656-4447, and Judith Galloway, Centre Township Trustee at (574) 291-7766. Dated this 15th day of January 2026 LIBERTY TOWNSHIP BOARD GREENE TOWNSHIP BOARD NORTH LIBERTY TOWN COUNCIL CENTRE TOWNSHIP BOARD HSPAXLP January 15 2026 LSBN0438764