There is growing confusion over which entity — the city of Franklin or the Joint Emergency Medical Services district — will receive 2012 tax money collected next year from Franklin residents for EMS services.

JEMS currently operates on two tax levies — a 0.8-mill levy and 1.0-mill levy — paid for by residents in Franklin, Carlisle and Franklin Twp.

Earlier this year, Franklin voters passed a levy that will create an EMS division within the city’s fire department beginning Jan. 2, 2013, which means the city will withdraw from the JEMS district and its residents will no longer have to pay on those two levies at the end of this year.

Knowing Franklin would withdraw from the district if its levy passed, JEMS officials earlier this year crafted their own tax levy with the understanding that taxes are collected a year in arrears and the money from Franklin residents collected in 2013 is for services in 2012 which the JEMS district provided. Warren County Auditor Nick Nelson explained, however, that may not be the case.

“Historically, the 2012 tax year would be paid in 2013 to provide service for 2013,” Nelson said. “So, from a practical standpoint, the money would go to whomever is providing the service, but it is a question we are researching.

“At this point there is no clear resolution,” he continued. “We are wrestling with who gets the money or how it will be divided, but it hasn’t been absolutely decided either way.”

Nelson estimated the amount of money in question to be between $200,000 and $250,000.

“I know city staff was very diligent in working with the county auditor’s office in crafting the language on our levy and understanding how the transition would take place so that Franklin residents would not pay more in property tax than the majority agreed to in the passage of our 3.5-mill levy in August,” said Franklin vice mayor Jason Faulkner, who represents the city on the JEMS board.

JEMS chief Andy Riddiough, as well as members of the Carlisle Village Council and Franklin Twp. Trustees who represent residents who will remain part of the JEMS district, expressed frustration with the situation.

“It’s not a secret that the (JEMS) board has received different advice and opinions and that is frustrating,” said Franklin Twp. Trustee Ron Ruppert, who sits on the JEMS board along with Scott Boschert of Carlisle and Faulkner.

“It doesn’t make sense to give money they paid for service back to them,” Boschert said. “I just don’t think it’s right.”

Further complicating the issue is the ballot language on the 2.61-mill levy JEMS has on the Nov. 6 ballot. It states that the Joint Ambulance District serves “the Village of Carlisle, Franklin Twp. and the city of Franklin,” which Nelson said means that Franklin residents are allowed to vote on a levy that will determine services they no longer need.

“JEMS wants to make sure its residents are protected and that it provides the best service possible with the money it has,” Riddiough said. “As we sit today, without a levy our services will be significantly affected, so ultimately, it is important to get our levy passed so there would be no reduction in service.”

Nelson said he has asked the prosecutor’s office for guidance on the issue and is hopeful to have a response by early November.

“My expectation is the prosecutor will eventually say what procedure needs to be followed,” Nelson said. “We’ll let both entities know then what course we’ll be taking.”