Northwest Fire District firefighter Matthew Bobay performs a training drill Friday morning at the district’s Huntertown station. The district is among four in Allen County that were granted money for more personnel in the 2026 budget. Firefighter Keyan Grismore curls weights Friday at the Huntertown station. Chief Robert Boren requested five new firefighters. The Northwest Allen district has seen “exponential growth,” with over 3,300 calls handled last year – and 95 calls the department could not cover because it did not have the manpower, Boren said.

The Allen County 2026 budget is taking shape after a more than five-hour hearing last week.

County Council has a $361.6 million budget to consider – almost $11 million more than this year’s – before final passage on Oct. 8.

Next year’s gen

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