Kokomo — The study group looking at the consolidation of Howard County townships has determined a model using the existing school boundaries is fiscally feasible.
The group includes representatives from nine of the 11 townships in the county and has been working on a model for the consolidation of Howard, Irvin and Clay township utilizing the Northwestern school boundaries.
“We took the revenues from the three townships and determined it’s feasible,” Jean Lushin, Center Township trustee and group chairman, said Wednesday. “The objective is that efficiency and a more cost-effective delivery of services will lead to savings for all townships.”
Lushin said the study group believes the model will work for the consolidation of three townships using the boundaries for the Western and Eastern school districts.
The three townships worked closely together in creating the model and also worked with Howard County Assessor Jamie Shepherd to develop a sample budget.
“When considering the test budget, the taxpayers in the townships with the most assessed value would see a slight increase in their tax amount, where taxpayers in the townships with the lease amount of assessed value would experience a minimal decrease in their taxes,” she said.
The study group is considering reducing the number of townships in Howard County from the current 11 to five in the future.
Lushin said the study group should have a recommendation completed to present to the township boards in early November.
“I believe the three townships would be supportive of the recommendation,” he said of Clay, Howard and Irwin elected officials. ”Hopefully the three townships in the Eastern school district would support a similar recommendation.”
The next step would require the three boards in Irwin, Clay and Howard townships to pass a resolution to consolidate services and place it on the 2012 ballot for a referendum vote, Lushin said. The effective date of a consolidation would be Jan 1, 2015, following the township elections in 2014.
If approved, instead of three trustees and nine board members, there would be a single trustee and three board members, one elected from each township.
The study committee was formed last November and the only two townships not officially taking part in the discussions are Honey Creek and Monroe townships, both located in the Western school district.
“I think we made a lot of progress,” Lushin said of the group’s efforts. “We’re ahead of other counties in terms of township consolidation.”
A survey of 452 registered voters in the county found 61 percent were in favor of some form of consolidation.
Lushin said the survey looked at several options, including no change, a single township office for the entire county, three trustee offices and the five based on the school boundaries.
He said of those favoring some form of consolidation, 35 percent supported the proposal to merge using school boundaries.