Centerville’s town council is deciding whether it will hire a municipal adviser for not just one but two financial analyses.
At council’s Tuesday, April 28, meeting, members reviewed a proposal from Indianapolis-based Baker Tilly Advisory Group to assist Clerk-Treasurer Sarah Rice where needed in preparing the town’s 2027 budget and related support.
The town hired Baker Tilly in 2026 for similar services.
This year’s charges would be $510-$705 per hour for principals/directors, $330-$480 for managers/senior managers, $210-$320 for consultants/analysts/senior consultants and $120-$230 for support/paraprofessionals/interns.
Council President Dan Wandersee also encouraged councilors to register for Accelerate Indiana Municipalities’ online budget seminar. It will explain changes to local government funding prompted by Indiana General Assembly’s passage of Senate Enrolled Act 1.
At council’s April 14 meeting, members discussed possibly hiring Baker Tilly to analyze the feasibility of establishing a combined fire territory for Centerville and Center Township. Currently, Center Township pays the town for fire protection.
Fire territories allow two or more contiguous taxing units such as townships, cities and fire districts to share resources and costs.
If a fire territory is established, property owners would pay up to 40 cents per $100 of properties’ net assessed values for fire protection. State-led property tax reforms are decreasing future town revenue.
Baker Tilly could perform a preliminary study costing up to $6,500 that determines how much funding the fire district would need.
Centerville Fire/Rescue Chief Andy Aughe wants to be able to pay daytime firefighters for coverage when few volunteers are available to improve response times. Aughe said most volunteer firefighters work out of town, compared to previous decades.
Quicker response times would lower homeowners’ insurance rates. Aughe said the only two ways Centerville could improve its Insurance Services Office rating would be daytime fire staffing or acquiring a ladder truck. Previous additions (second station and a third engine) already lowered customers’ insurance costs.
Councilors are reviewing Baker Tilly’s related work for other fire territories before deciding. They might vote at council’s next meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at 220 E. Main St. The public is invited.
In other business
- While renovation of Centerville Public Library is nearly finished, library staff asked the town to extend its lease for its temporary location, the former municipal building. They’re requesting a month-to-month extension in case moving out takes more time than expected. Town attorney Ed Martin is reviewing the request for discussion at council’s next meeting.
- Police Chief Josh Millsaps attended Indiana Law Enforcement Academy’s executive training for recently hired chiefs.
- A kickoff meeting took place about the final phase of the lead water line replacement project. Town officials are securing more rights of entry before they begin.
- Centerville Fire/Rescue Auxiliary is planning a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at Fire Station 1, 414 S. Morton Ave., before Centerville Youth League’s nearby opening day parade. Donations will be accepted. In addition, Aughe noted some confusion about an update to CF/R’s participation in CYL’s parade. Because of safety concerns, youth won’t be riding on the fire truck this year, but volunteer firefighters will appear in CYL’s parade.
A version of this article will appear in the May 6 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.