Kokomo — The number of township governmental units in Howard County would be reduced by more than 50 percent under a proposed consolidation plan that would use school-district boundaries.
The township advisory boards for Center, Clay, Howard and Taylor townships have already approved a resolution to start the consolidation process, which is being advocated by Center Township Trustee Jean Lushin.
Howard County is believed to be the first in the state to consider a county-wide consolidation of township government.
Lushin said township officials are beginning to understand that Gov. Mitch Daniels and state lawmakers are looking to change the way township government operates.
“Everybody sees the handwriting on the wall,” he said. “This will give us a voice in how things are handled.”
Taylor Township Trustee Dianne Kuntz said the intent is to begin discussions on how to better serve the community and save tax dollars.
“We realize something has to be done,” she said. “We want it done properly with the residents kept in mind. Everyone is willing to look at consolidation.”
Under Lushin’s proposal, the number of townships would be reduced from 11 to five. The number of elected officials would decline from 44 to 20.
By utilizing the school boundaries, the entire consolidation would be expedited and could be completed by the end of the year, according to Lushin.
The alignment proposed by Lushin is: Eastern School System would include Liberty, Jackson and Union townships; Western would include Honey Creek, Monroe and Harrison townships; Northwestern would consolidate Ervin, Howard and Clay townships; with Center and Taylor townships standing alone.
Lushin has suggested each consolidated township would have a representative on the advisory board and each would have one trustee.
Kuntz said she prefers consolidation along school district borders.
“It’s easier to identify the people that are running for office, it would be the same as the school board election,” she said.
Lushin said the consolidation could take place under legislation enacted by the Indiana General Assembly dealing specifically with townships.
“We started the discussions several months ago,” Lushin said.
He said a meeting of the Howard County township trustees is set for Sept. 2 when the remaining townships will indicate whether they want to participate in the consolidation talks.
A committee consisting of elected officials from each township will be created with the appointment of a non-partisan third-party member to serve as chairman, Lushin said.
“Everyone is talking about saving money,” he said. “We’re talking about efficiencies and service to the public.”
If the townships agree to use the consolidation proposal based on school boundaries, only one public hearing is required.
“There would be a lot of benefits,” Lushin said.
Township offices could be located in the Russiaville and Greentown town halls or in volunteer fire department facilities instead of private residences.
Salaries for township board members would be based on population with a maximum of $5,000 per year in townships with more than 10,000 people; $3,000 per year in townships with a population of more than 5,000, but less than 10,000; and $2,000 for townships of under 5,000 population.
Lushin said the trustees’ salaries would have to increase, but the funds from the consolidated townships would be merged. He said tax rates would be uniform across each township.
Currently all the townships use the same criteria to grant township assistance, criteria that were written by Lushin. He said the benefit levels could differ.