Kokomo — A subcommittee of Howard County townships considering merging to provide more efficient services is working on a township model.
Eight of the 11 townships in the county have been meeting in an effort to consolidate down to five townships using the boundaries of the school districts in Howard County.
Jean Lushin, Center Township trustee, said the model township is being explored for the consolidation of Howard, Clay and Ervin townships, all within the Northwestern School Corp. boundaries.
“The model is what it would look like if we reorganize,” he said.
The proposed model is looking at replacing the three trustees with one, at a slightly higher salary, and instead of nine board members there would be three, including one from each township.
Lushin said with one trustee and three board members it might encourage more people to seek elective office in the future.
With the Republican Party gaining control of both houses of the Indiana General Assembly, there is speculation that Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, might attempt to push through legislation to eliminate the township boards.
“Eliminating the township board does away with an entry level for participatory government,” Lushin said. “If you eliminate the board, it becomes a department of county government. Is county government ready to assume that responsibility?”
Lushin said the consolidation talks offer a better idea than eliminating the township boards.
“If each county in the state would consolidate, it would reduce the number of elected officials by half,” he said, “and make the system better.”
Lushin hopes lawmakers will give Howard County’s proposed consolidation time to work.
The township consolidation committee has adopted rules of governance, which include compliance with the state’s open door law and state statutes.
The committee has also adopted a $7,500 budget to cover legal costs, materials and postage.
Lushin said each of the townships participating in the discussions will pay a percentage of the budgeted amount based on the population of each township. He said Center Township will pay 58 percent of the budgeted amount.
The boards of Honey Creek and Monroe townships are not participating in the study that could produce a recommendation on consolidation.
Lushin said the Union Township board had not voted to participate as of Monday.