By Maribeth Holtz, Chronicle-Tribune
The future of township government remains on the table, as the Indiana General Assembly considers two bills that would restructure the responsibilities of township trustees and boards and shift duties to the county level.
One bill would retain trustees and eliminate township boards, putting fiscal responsibility on county councils. Another bill would allow local voters to decide on the issue, so the future of each township would be the result of a referendum.
Both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly have to consider each bill, and a compromise could be made or perhaps each bill would die.
"It's progress," Gov. Mitch Daniels said Thursday of bills that have been advancing. "There may be some way to blend those bills."
While some elected officials are open to changes in local government, others - including some local township officials - worry about the ramifications.
Daniels supports streamlining local government, and suggestions brought forth in the 2007 Kernan-Shepard report. The report listed ways to restructure government, stating various measures would be more efficient and save taxpayer dollars.
Daniels said while allowing referendums could make a patchwork of different types of government throughout the state, he's glad "we've got some forward motion here."
Last year, bills to streamline township government were met with opposition from township trustees. Local trustees said last week that they are still concerned about what the future might mean.
"One size does not fit all," said Jerry Shull, Pleasant Township trustee.
Shull said he would hope local voters can decide on the issue, but still some people that need poor relief through the township trustee's office may not even be registered to vote.
Townships are in charge of poor relief, maintaining cemeteries and local fire protection.
Shull said townships have been especially useful in the last couple of years, when people had trouble getting through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's new technology-based welfare distribution system.
"We all had a great deal of people who were desperate and needed immediate relief," he said.
If township government is administered at the county level, Shull worries people wouldn't be able to get there. He added that county government has had to make large cuts, so he doesn't know if the resources would be available for them to take on more responsibilities.
Carolyn Armes, Mill Township trustee, said she understands the need to get rid of nepotism in township government. But she said for the most part, she feels like trustees are being judged unfairly and there are many that do good work in the community.
She said she can't imagine county officials being able to know everything about each township enough to care for it like trustees do. She's also concerned people who need poor relief will fall through the cracks, and won't be able to get help at the county level.
Grant County's legislators say they are open to more discussion on the issue, and they can see the merit of streamlining local government through making changes at the township level.
Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, and Rep. Joe Pearson, D-Hartford City, said they would be in favor of the bill that allows locals to vote on the issue. Kenley said while most townships could or should be eliminated, there are some rural communities where it's actually more cost-effective to have a township form of government.
Pearson said he has also seen township trustees recently help people that have had a hard time with the computer and phone-based FSSA benefits.
"This is a place where one type of local government doesn't fit all communities," he said.
Sen. Gary Dillon, R-Columbia City, said he prefers the bill that would eliminate township boards and put fiscal responsibility on the county council. He said with property tax reform, it makes sense that the county council has more authority to coordinate expenditures county-wide.
Some Grant County Council members said they can see the merits of streamlining local government. President Jim McWhirt, however, said he would prefer township government remain intact unless it saves a large amount of money.
Councilman Tim Rush said he definitely thinks all forms of government in Indiana need to be explored and simplified.
"Anything that would simplify government and save expense, and make things more efficient while still protecting people and handling poor relief, I'm all for," he said.