The Evansville Courier & PressIt is beyond debate that the people of Evansville and Vanderburgh County are paying for too much government.
Those who live within the city limits pay for city government, with its own executive and legislative branches as well as departments for public safety, public parks and any other services expected of a municipal government.
Those same city taxpayers, who make up the majority of county taxpayers, join with county residents living outside the city limits in paying for a county government, again, complete with its own executive and legislative branches and departments offering municipal-type services, including public safety.
That begs one very simple question: Why?
All across America, businesses are downsizing their operations and eliminating duplicated services to better control costs. And yet, our local governments churn on, charging taxpayers for unnecessary duplication.
Many of our very own citizens are suffering the loss of jobs from business downsizing, yet they are expected to continue paying for double the government they need.
You don't have to agree with us. A lot of people who live outside the city limits don't. The reason? They like having to pay for only county and township government while enjoying the benefits of living near a city with all that it offers. It is reasonable to expect that city residents would prefer the same streamlined system of government those who live outside the city now experience.
With that in mind, the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana is leading an effort now to put that question to the voters of the city and county, but a deadline nears.
As announced in September, the league is collecting names on petitions, which, if successful, could lead to a city-county referendum on whether to consolidate Evansville and Vanderburgh County government.
The form of that government is yet to be determined, and structuring it would be part of a complicated process. So it is impossible for anyone to say now whether it should be supported or opposed. However, we cannot get to that point in the process without taking the first step.
That means the League of Women Voters must come up with some 2,632 signatures by Thursday. A week ago, a league official said they were about half-way there.
If you wish to sign such a petition, and have not yet had the opportunity to do so, you can contact the league at http://www.lwvswin.org/
Also, you can e-mail the organization concerning this effort at consolidation@lwvswin.org
Even if the League secures the required number of signatures, it will be a challenge meeting the requirements of House Enrolled Act 1326, so as to have a referendum on the ballot by November 2010.
Consider that first the signatures would have to be verified by the county Election Board. Once that is completed, the Vanderburgh County Commission and the Evansville City Council could would each have to agree on a study committee of individuals who would develop the plan to consolidate city and county government.
Once that plan is in hand, the governing boards would each vote on it. If they vote yes, it would go to a referendum.
If they vote no, it would go back to the committee for a rewrite. If the rewrite is rejected, it would die. That is, unless 10 percent of voters - double those needed to begin the process - sign a petition to force a referendum.
There are other steps thrown in, such as determining whether a simple majority or a higher number is needed for passage. But none of this can occur if the League does not secure 2,632 signatures on the current petitions.
Signing a petition does not mean you support consolidation. It merely means you want to find out if there is a better way to structure our local governments.
Please, join us in supporting this petition drive.