Indiana township reform seems unlikely in Indiana General Assembly

INDIANAPOLIS | Township government in Indiana looks like a safe bet to remain intact as state lawmakers can't agree how to go about changing it.

Surrounded by Marion County township officials at a Statehouse event Tuesday, state Rep. William Crawford, D-Indianapolis, continued his call for a township-by-township referendum on whether to eliminate township boards and trustees.

Under House Bill 1181, if voters in a township decided through a referendum to get rid of their township, county government would administer the services formerly provided by the township.

Leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate don't want a referendum. The Senate plan would eliminate township boards outright but keep the township trustees, who would work with county government to administer the townships.

Township reform attempts appeared dead as the House neared a scheduled final adjournment last Thursday. A surprise decision by House Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, to bring the House back into session this week kept the possibility of local government reform alive.

But since then, lawmakers meeting in a House-Senate conference committee intended to work out the differences between the two chambers have made little progress.

Crawford insisted Tuesday he only would agree to advance the legislation for a final vote if it includes the referendum.