By Kirk Johannesen, The Republic
johannesen@therepublic.com
Barb Hackman is used to voters deciding if she is the best person to be Columbus Township's assessor.
In November, though, the township's voters will do more than decide if she should hold that job. They'll determine if the position should be eliminated.
A new state law requires that the duties of assessors in townships with less than 15,000 parcels of property are to be transferred to the county assessor July 1.
Also, a referendum will be conducted during the November general election to determine if the job of assessor in townships with more than 15,000 parcels is retained.
Columbus Township, with more than 18,000 parcels, is the only township in the county that requires a referendum.
Hackman, who has been the Columbus Township assessor since 2003, believes the position should be kept.
"My feeling is that for Bartholomew County, it would be beneficial for the county," she said.
She said the current structure of having township assessors has worked, and she noted that Bartholomew County didn't have the kind of problems with assessments as other counties did.
Also, Columbus Township (18,495) has more parcels than the other 11 townships combined (16,757). So, if the county assessor assumed her office's duties, it would have to hire more people to perform the required tasks, Hackman said.
"I think they're trying to change something that isn't broken," Hackman said.
The change is part of Gov. Mitch Daniels' attempt to streamline government.
House Bill 1001, which the Indiana Legislature approved March 14 with overwhelming support, contained the language about assessors. Daniels signed the bill Wednesday.
Some township assessors said they understand the reasoning for consolidating the duties, but they are concerned about the costs and loss of personal connections township residents had with their assessors.
Differing opinions
Bartholomew County Assessor Tom Owens has mixed emotions about the new law.
"Barb and I have had a lot of harmony in Bartholomew County. In other townships, there is a war going on with township and county assessors," he said.
"We get along fine, but down the road, overall, I think one assessor is a better way to do it."
Ultimately, Owens said, he is responsible for the more than 35,000 parcels of property, because the county has top authority.
However, he acknowledged his office would have to hire more people if it assumed Columbus Township's duties.
The positions of county assessor and Columbus Township assessor each pay $45,109, and the pay rate for the deputies in each office is the same.
Owens said assessing duties in Bartholomew County already is somewhat streamlined.
Except for Columbus Township, which includes the city of Columbus, Owens is responsible for the assessment of real estate in every township.
The trustees in those 11 townships, who have assessing powers, are responsible only for determining the value of personal property and mobile homes.
Personal property includes farm equipment, campers and small boats.
Columbus Township has approximately 1,250 mobile homes and 3,180 parcels of personal property.
The other townships combined have about 1,400 mobile homes and 3,170 parcels of personal property.
David Dwyer, Harrison Township trustee, said the change doesn't make a big difference for him.
He spends 40 to 80 hours a year assessing the personal property and mobile homes in the township, and receives less than $3,000 for doing that.
"I'm not unhappy," Dwyer said.
He believes having uniformity with assessments is important, and he thinks letting township voters decide on keeping a position of assessor is best.
While the changes will consolidate authority and are aimed at uniformity, Rockcreek Township Trustee Larry Boyle believes they won't save money.
He thinks it will cost more to add personnel to the county assessor's staff to perform the extra duties than what the townships assessors are paid now.
"Somebody didn't crunch the numbers good enough on that," Boyle said.
David Hoene, Jackson Township trustee for 30 years, said he's worried that township residents won't receive the same personal contact.
Hoene said he goes to farms to talk to the busy farmers and assess their equipment, and travels to the homes of elderly people who don't get out much, so he can assess their personal property.
"Personally, (the change) doesn't bother me, but as for the people, I don't think it's a good thing," Hoene said.