The first fallout from Mayor Greg Ballard’s Ways and Means testimony hit this afternoon and its not good for Ballard. 

Ballard requested passage of Senate Bill 280, a measure aimed at fire department consolidation in Marion County.  He said that if more consolidation takes place, that would make it easier to eliminate township trustees who oversee fire departments now.

Ways and Means Chairman Bill Crawford says that, by mentioning the trustees, Ballard politicized the issue.  Crawford won’t give the bill a hearing now.  Instead, he says he will wait to consider the Kernan/Shepard Commission recommendations next year and look at government consolidation on a statewide basis.

According to Crawford Ballard’s testimony means no more special treatment for Marion County.