Northwest Howard County trustees support merger; some savings may be possible

Clay Township Trustee David Boyce and Howard Township Trustee Jocena Schafer voiced support for the consolidation during an informational meeting at Northwestern High School Thursday sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Howard County. Ervin Township Trustee Connie Longshore didn’t attend the meeting.

Both Boyce and Schafer said most of their time and funding is spent on providing township assistance to local residents. Boyce said he has provided assistance to eight clients this year and Schafer said she has 12 active cases.

Boyce said the proposed budget for the consolidated township is approximately $204,000, which would save taxpayers some money. He said a consolidated office would probably be open four days per week for four hours each day and would include the trustee, a clerk and maybe an investigator.

“It won’t increase the efficiency of government,” Boyce conceded.

Schafer and Boyce said their support was based on the possibility the Indiana General Assembly will take action to eliminate the 1,008 townships and transfer the responsibilities to a county-wide office or even a regional office for the providing of services.

“There is a possible savings to taxpayers,” Boyce said. “If they did away with townships, I have a concern for the township assistance clients. Elimination wouldn’t be beneficial to the clients.”

Schafer said she believes there will be efficiencies in the operation of a consolidated office and savings that haven’t been realized in the study.

Neither Schafer or Boyce plan to run for the position of trustee if the townships are consolidated starting in 2015.

Boyce said there would be no change in fire protection services if the merger is approved by the voters.