Christine,
Thanks for info. Note, this issue comes up every couple of years. I believe it gets sparked by certain powers here in Ohio that truly want to eliminate Township government. Ohio's system is actually pretty unique, and more importantly, works pretty well. In Ohio I would think any changes would constitute a change in the ORC so it may be a bit more difficult to screw with. The other angle used by what I call "metropolitanists" is to claim the benefits and efficiencies of large regional (sometimes county-wide) governments, in order to run more urban areas. Cincinnati teases the outlying areas with this every now and then. That's what we all need, is incompetent Cincinnati style government running the region, or worse the Dayton-Cinci Metroplex

Jose Alvarez



---- Christine Matacic <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> All,  
> 
> FYI - see below regarding Indiana (also attached).
> 
> Christine Matacic
> 
> 
> State Senate OKs township bill
> 
> 
> By Mary Beth Schneider
> 
> Posted: February 24, 2009
> 
>  
> 
> After intense debate, the Indiana Senate today voted 28-22 for a bill that could reshape the face of township government in Indiana.
> 
> The measure, which now goes to the Indiana House, is a centerpiece of the local government reforms pushed by Gov. Mitch Daniels and backed by a coalition of business, civic and political leaders, Mysmartgov.org.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Senate Bill 512, most of which does not apply to Marion County, would eliminate township boards in all other 91 counties and require their budgets to be approved by the county council. 
> 
> If that budget had a balance of more than 10 percent of their operating budget, the county could decide whether the reserves should be spent before asking property taxpayers to chip in more tax dollars.
> 
> It also bars township trustees, including in Marion County, from hiring their own relatives. Relatives who currently are employees would have to find new jobs by Jan. 1, 2011. 
> 
> The bill had originally sought to eliminate township government altogether, but that push faced intense opposition both among lawmakers and local government officials. It limped out of committee, but was strengthened through amendments in the full Senate on Monday.
> 
> Sen. Connie Lawson, the Danville Republican who was the chief sponsor of the bill, urged her colleagues to vote for it, saying "it's a vote looking out for the taxpayers."
> 
> Sen. Teresa Lubbers, R-Indianapolis, said there are few issues her constituents care more about than the reshaping of township government, and said she was dismayed that it does not also abolish boards in Marion County townships. 
> 
> Marion County voters, she said, already gave their approval to eliminating township assessors. She said she'd be working as the bill progresses now to the House to try to strengthen it to include Marion County.
> 
> But Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, a former township trustee, argued that this was a step not only toward bigger government, but to the demise of representative government in the United States.
> 
> While critics of township government have cited various incidents of the misuse of funds by township officials, Kruse cited a list of misdeeds he said members of Congress had committed - and noted no one is suggesting that because of those that Congress be eliminated.
> 
> Kruse also argued that "picking on" township government won't mean tax savings. 
> Township government only accounts for 3 percent of all property tax dollars statewide, he said. Lawson, though, challenged that, noting that in some townships, it's a lot higher.
> 
> "Congratulations to (David Long State Senate Pro Tem) and the Senate for a strong and courageous performance in reforming local government and protecting taxpayers," Daniels said in a news release today. "We've seen breakthroughs on townships, county government, libraries and elections, all of which will reduce confusion, waste, nepotism, and conflicts of interest all across our state."
> 
> Call Star reporter Mary Beth Schneider at (317) 444-2772.
> 
> Add your thoughts: Post a comment
> 
> IndyStar readers have left 6 comments - Join the discussion! 
> 
> Most recent comments:
> 
>    Newest firstOldest first
> 
>  
> 
> IndianaJane wrote:
> 
> Replying to skiers:
> 
> Shame on all those senators who refuse to get rid of the township. They care nothing about the taxpayer. We need to vote thgem all out.
> 
> 
> 
> Anything that replaces the township trustees is going to cost us more. Bet on it!
> 
> "Township government only accounts for 3 percent of all property tax dollars statewide"
> Since the trustees make almost nothing (outside of Marion Co), there is no cheaper form of local government - to assess personal property and help the poor.
> 2/25/2009 1:19:25 AM 
> 
> .
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> skiers wrote:
> 
> Shame on all those senators who refuse to get rid of the township. They care nothing about the taxpayer. We need to vote thgem all out.
> 2/25/2009 12:27:44 AM 
> 
> Shame on all those senators who refuse to get rid of the township.   They care nothing about the taxpayer.   We need to vote thgem all out.skiers
> 
> Shame on all those senators who refuse to get rid of the township.   They care nothing about the taxpayer.   We need to vote thgem all out.<a href='http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=f2add5582c754b6ca43dcc9bbd5cc251'><b>skiers</b></a>
> 
>  
> 
> altbier855 wrote:
> 
> Let's not get too excited. Pat Bauer will lead his band of politicians to crush any modernization or reform. Cronyism rules!
> 2/24/2009 9:13:59 PM 
> 
> Let's not get too excited.  Pat Bauer will lead his band of politicians to crush any modernization or reform.  Cronyism rules!
> 
> Let's not get too excited.  Pat Bauer will lead his band of politicians to crush any modernization or reform.  Cronyism rules!<a href='http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=ef748f6649494699bab995d59774a9ec'><b>altbier855</b></a>
> 
>  
> 
> SuperBob wrote:
> 
> Didn't we vote in a referendum to overwhelmingly eliminate the assessors????
> 2/24/2009 7:49:43 PM 
> 
> Didn't we vote in a referendum to overwhelmingly eliminate the assessors????SuperBob
> 
> Didn't we vote in a referendum to overwhelmingly eliminate the assessors????<a href='http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=pluckpersona&U=da9f6a52fb6c411eab497aa73cee4b4c'><b>SuperBob</b></a>
> 
>  
> 
> SusieQPublic wrote:
> 
> What a bunch of spineless wonders. I wonder what Little King Mitch threatened them with -- or promised them -- to change their minds.
> 2/24/2009 6:55:39 PM