The Citizens Committee for Consolidation has selected topics to be discussed during five public forums set for the month of August.
With the Howard County commissioners considering an amended resolution in response to the Kokomo Common Council’s decision last year to form a committee under the state’s Government Modernization Act, the CCC is looking to get public input on five topics.
The commissioners want to include the towns of Russiaville and Greentown in the discussions and make a recommendation on consolidation of government services.
The five topics to be discussed include: school administration consolidation; township government consolidation; Kokomo Police Department and Howard County Sheriff Department consolidation; privatization of government services, such as trash collection; and the merging of the county highway department and Kokomo Street Department.
The five meetings will take place on the Indiana University Kokomo campus, with four in Havens Auditorium.
Isabella Chism, chairman of the CCC, said the topics were selected to draw people to the meetings and to encourage discussion.
The format will include two speakers on the advantages and disadvantages of each of the five consolidation topics.
John Floyd, a CCC member appointed by the city of Kokomo, recommended the discussion of school administration consolidation, noting there are several employees in the county’s five school systems earning more than $100,000 per year.
“School consolidation should be looked at,” he said. “There should be some savings.”
The five school systems also are carrying more than $140 million in debt, Floyd said.
The CCC is also considering either a website or a Facebook page to seek public comments on the topics.