State Senate passes township revamp bill-WEB ONLY

The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to eliminate local township advisory boards, but not eliminate township government completely as Gov. Mitch Daniels had proposed.

The bill that passed yesterday 28-22 would eliminate three-member township boards that adopt the annual township budget and act as the township’s fiscal and legislative body. Those duties would be shifted to the county council instead.

Township trustees, who act as the executive branch of the very local form of government, would remain.

Opponents of the proposal said the bill was just one step toward the complete elimination of townships. They said local officials are close to the people they represent and are more accessible than county leaders.

“We care about our local people,” said Sen. Dennis Kruse, a Republican from Auburn and former township trustee. “We care about our neighbors and our neighborhood. That’s why we have township government.”

Kruse said township officials are often involved in Republican and Democratic party politics, and said eliminating their jobs would mean fewer people involved in local politics.

But supporters of the revamping painted a different picture. They pointed to cases of sloppy bookkeeping in townships and said consolidating township government would be more efficient.

“What we’re trying to do here is look out for the taxpayers, not the politicians,” said bill sponsor Sen. Connie Lawson (R-Danville).

The original bill would have eliminated township government completely and shifted all township responsibilities, such as poor relief, to the county level. The proposal had to be watered down to clear the GOP-led Senate, and it will likely face even higher hurdles in the House.

Democrats who control the chamber have not been eager to consider government-reorganization proposals, saying lawmakers should focus on more pressing priorities like the budget.

Daniels, a Republican, has been pushing several government reorganization measures this year, including proposals to reorganize county government, consolidate some small school districts and take a first step toward making some county positions appointed instead of elected. Of those three, only the county-reorganization bill remains alive and it was also changed significantly, allowing counties to stick with their current government structure under some circumstances.

But Daniels said he was glad about some measures passing.

“We’ve seen breakthroughs on townships, county government, libraries and elections, all of which will reduce confusion, waste, nepotism, and conflicts of interest all across our state,” he said in a statement.