Kokomo — Efforts by the township trustees in Howard County to consolidate their offices could become the model used throughout Indiana.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has renewed his call for the elimination of township government in Indiana, an idea that has not been embraced by members of the Indiana General Assembly.
Daniels would assign the township government duties to elected city or county officials.
Last year, officials from eight of the 11 townships in Howard County started meeting to consolidate down to five townships, using the existing school district boundaries.
If adopted countywide, it would reduce the number of trustees from 11 to five and the members of the advisory boards from 33 to 15.
The model township is being explored for the consolidation of Howard, Clay and Ervin townships, all within the Northwestern School Corp. boundaries.
Under that scenario, instead of three trustees and nine advisory board members, the consolidated township would have one trustee and three board members, one representing each of the merged townships.
Sen. Jim Buck, R-21st District, intends to introduce legislation that would allow township consolidation using Howard County as the model for the remainder of the state. The bill would require the mergers to be complete by 2014.
Buck said Thursday he’s in conversation with the governor’s administrative staff concerning the legislation.
“We’re trying to figure out how to have a viable level of government and still reduce the numbers and achieve good economies of scale,” he said. “I want to preserve township government at a reduced level.”
Buck said he has gotten a positive response from lawmakers on both sides of the argument, those wanting to preserve and eliminate township government.
He said several township trustees have indicated a willingness to forego their individual elected offices for a more effective form of government.
Center Township Trustee Jean Lushin is heading up the local consolidation efforts adding the group is close to releasing details of what a township might look like in the future.
The committee is awaiting information on each township’s assessed value and tax levies.
Lushin said people shouldn’t look at consolidation as a cost-saving initiative, but through the efficiency of operation, there could be a savings.
“This is what we think will work,” he said. “We’re working together and trying to be pro-active. The concept is good, we want lawmakers to give us a chance to make it work.”
Taylor Township Trustee Dianne Kuntz, said the work of the committee is progressing.
She said even though some of the advisory boards have not passed a resolution to take part in the talks, all 11 trustees have been attending the twice-monthly meetings.
“I believe the model will work in other counties,” Kuntz said. “We’re not changing boundaries by using the school districts, it would be obtainable in most counties.”