Indiana Township Association Releases Findings Of Comprehensive Task Force Study On Efficiency And Effectiveness Of Township Government
In response to continued legislative efforts to change or eliminate township government, the Indiana Township Association created a task force and worked with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute to study the efficiency and effectiveness of Indiana township government and develop policy recommendations. The task force was made up of ITA officials, state legislators, state agency representatives, and a variety of other stakeholders.
“Part of the value of township government is found in the important and timely services we provide to the people. These services include township assistance including case management; fire protection and EMS; parks and recreation; and the maintenance, preservation, and restoration of cemeteries,” said ITA Executive Director Debbie Driskell. “ITA will use the data and recommendations in this report to continue our collaborative work with townships and with legislators to make township governments stronger as well as more effective and efficient. We look forward to initiating and supporting changes that will enhance our delivery of critical services to Indiana’s citizens.”
Data was collected from township offices across the state and compiled in six different population tiers. The Task Force met nine times and developed a set of recommendations that were adopted by township officials at the ITA conference last fall.
The 27 total recommendations are broken down into categories of: township structure and mergers, finances, township assistance, fire and EMS services, education and communication. Below are some of the key recommendations:
- Encourage townships to consider interlocal arrangements to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of local services
- Provide support to townships that wish to pursue voluntary mergers
- Allow nonvoluntary mergers of townships if certain criteria is met
- Make townships eligible for state grants and low-interest loan funding
- Strengthen board oversight of township finances
- Expand the circumstances that allow a public safety levy appeal
- Require townships with fire and EMS services to be included in public safety local income tax allocations
- Mandate annual continuing education for elected officials and critical staff
- Expand education of the public, K-12 students, and policy makers about the duties and values of township government
“During the interim of the 2022 legislative year, I participated in the Indiana Township Association task force. The task force included township mergers, elected officials, and academia,” said State Representative Doug Miller. “I found the data eye opening and the discussion around the data informative. I have high expectations that recommended actions will upgrade customer service to Hoosiers, provide fewer layers of government, and ensure all Hoosiers have ready access to police, fire and ambulance services.”
There is currently legislation pending at the statehouse regarding the allocation of funds for townships that supply EMS and Fire. Senate Bill 78, proposed by State Senator Rick Niemeyer, would allow for these qualifying townships to apply for a distribution of public safety local income tax revenues from the county. The bill passed unanimously through the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy committee and passed the full Senate by a vote of 48-1. It is now headed to the Indiana House of Representatives. “ITA seeks to use the results of the study to work together with state legislators and agency officials to enact many of the associated recommendations to ensure the needs of Hoosiers continue to be met at the local level,” concluded Driskell.