More on Consolidation from virago two cents worth

There is a guest column in the News-Sentinel about Bill 1362. This bill "..establishes a uniform procedure for the reorganization of political subdivisions. Provides that 'political subdivision' does not include a local hospital authority or corporation. Provides that the reorganization process may be initiated by the legislative bodies of the reorganizing political subdivisions or by a petition signed by 5% of the voters in the reorganizing political subdivisions (as determined by the vote cast in the political subdivision for secretary of state at the most recent general election)." without state interferenceThe column is to dispel the fears of inquiring minds or rumors on the motive behind the government modernization resolution by City Council President Dr. Crawford and Talarico,Jr. that was recently passed by the majority body.

The public hearing by the County Commission, will involve the public. Really now or will involve the public being other political subdivisions that may be impacted.

Ic 36.1.5 chapter 2

Sec. 17. A reorganization committee may do the following:
(2) Conduct public hearings on the plan of reorganization as the reorganization committee determines necessary or appropriate.

Sec. 18. (a) A reorganization committee shall prepare a comprehensive plan of reorganization for the reorganizing political subdivisions. The plan of reorganization governs the actions, duties, and powers of the reorganized political subdivision that are not specified by law.

Sec. 19. The legislative body of each of the reorganizing political subdivisions shall provide for the following:
(1) Consideration of a plan of reorganization presented by a reorganization committee in the form of a resolution incorporating the plan of reorganization in full or by reference.
(2) Reading of the resolution incorporating the plan of reorganization in at least two (2) separate meetings of the legislative body of the political subdivision.
(3) Conducting a public hearing on the plan of reorganization:
(A) not sooner than five (5) days after notice of the public hearing is published under IC 5-3-1; and
(B) before the legislative body takes final action on the resolution to adopt the plan of reorganization. Sec. 20. At a public hearing on a plan of reorganization conducted under section 19 of this chapter, or in a public meeting held not more than thirty (30) days after the public hearing concludes, a legislative body of a reorganizing political subdivision shall do one (1) of the following: (1) Adopt the plan of reorganization as presented to the legislative body.
(2) Adopt the plan of reorganization with modifications.
(3) Reject the plan of reorganization and order a reorganization committee to submit a new plan of reorganization within thirty (30) days after the legislative body rejects the plan of reorganization.

The voting public--the taxpayers will not enter the picture, they may attend meetings if they find out about them, or send in written comments, but the city is waiting on another entity only to say they outsmarted the 400,000 plus citizens.

This would be my response to the questions in the editorial.

Will my taxes go up?

Absolutely. How do you think these chieftains will be able to pay for this new body in which to govern.

I.C. 36.1.5 Chapter 2

Sec. 4. Subject to this chapter, the department of local government finance shall adjust the maximum permissible
property tax levies, maximum permissible property tax rates, and budgets of political subdivisions that enter into a reorganization under this article as the department of local government finance determines necessary to do the following:
(1) Eliminate double taxation by different political subdivisions for services or goods provided under this article.
(2) Eliminate any excess by which the amount of property taxes imposed by a political subdivision exceeds the amount necessary to pay for services or goods provided under this article.
(3) Restore taxing powers of a political subdivision after the termination of a reorganization under this article that are necessary to fund governmental services to the individuals and entities served by the political subdivision.



Is there a secret plan?

It would not be a secret, if anyone knew about the SECRET PLAN ! In the words of John Stossel, "Give me a break."

Is the city just taking over the county?

No. The county is taking over the city. If you can't get the folks to move back into the city you might as well join them.

36.1.5 Chapter 4
Sec. 4. As part of a reorganization in a finally approved plan of reorganization, one (1) or more of the reorganizing political subdivisions or the reorganized political subdivision may do the following:
(1) Adjust any of its boundaries.
(2) Establish a joint service area with another political subdivision.
(3) Transfer the functions of an office to another office.
(4) Provide for a legislative body, an executive, or a fiscal body of the reorganized political subdivision to exercise the powers of a legislative body, an executive, or a fiscal body of a reorganizing political subdivision.
(5) Change the name of the political subdivision or select a new name

Will minority groups lose their influence?

LOL. What minority groups? What influence? First, you have only one African-American representative on City Council representing the majority of ALL minorities. Second, You have one African-American on County Council that representing the majority of African-American and All other so called minorities. Third, you have no women representatives on city council, where the city is comprised of more than half females. Fourth, on county council you have two women and neither one is a representative of all women that I am aware of. Furthermore, none of representatives have a clear impact on the majority party elected officials sitting on each of the councils.

Because of that the "minority goup" will always be outnumbered by votes among their peers. These members serve only as token representatives and that does not translate into INFLUENCE. Finally, the very folks who sit on these councils will be the ones picking the folks to be on the plan committee!

Now count how many will be selected and add up all the folks selected and how many of each of the so called "minority goups" will be included. Do you think either of the so-called "minority groups" will have a majority. LoL Now, if you think these individuals will think outside the box and select folks that do not support their interest when they have already X'ed out the taxpayers????

Will this stop the growth of the smaller incorporated cities?

Sure it will. There is limitation within the Bill that restrict how consolidation among the entities can occure, and those closes to consolidated area will be landlocked, if they don't join in with a political subdivision that may be consolidating.

36.1.5

Chapter 4. Reorganization by Referendum
Sec. 1. (a) Any of the following may reorganize under this chapter:
(1) Two (2) or more counties. A county reorganizing under this subdivision must be adjacent to at least one (1) other county participating in the reorganization.
(2) Two (2) or more townships located entirely within the same county. A township reorganizing under this subdivision must be adjacent to at least one (1) other township

participating in the reorganization.
(3) Two (2) or more municipalities. A municipality reorganizing under this subdivision must be adjacent to at least one (1) other municipality participating in the reorganization.
(4) Two (2) or more school corporations. A school corporation reorganizing under this subdivision must be adjacent to at least one (1) other school corporation participating in the reorganization.
(5) Two (2) or more municipal corporations, other than a unit or a school corporation, that have substantially equivalent powers. A municipal corporation reorganizing under this subdivision must be adjacent to at least one (1) other municipal corporation participating in the reorganization.
(6) Two (2) or more special taxing districts that are adjacent to at least one (1) other special taxing district participating in the reorganization.
(7) A township and a municipality that is located in any part of the same township.
(8) A county and one (1) or more townships that are located in the county.
(9) A municipality and a county that does not contain a consolidated city.
(10) A school corporation and a county or municipality in which a majority of the students of the school corporation have legal settlement (as defined by IC 20-18-2-11).
(11) A municipal corporation, other than a unit or a school corporation, and a county or municipality in which a majority of the population of the municipal corporation resides.
(b) If a political subdivision reorganizes under this article with one (1) or more other political subdivisions:
(1) any political subdivisions that did not participate in the public question on the reorganization are not reorganized under this article;
(2) the reorganization affects only those political subdivisions in which the reorganization is approved as specified in this article; and
(3) the reorganization does not affect the rights, powers, and duties of any political subdivisions in the county in which the reorganization is not approved as specified in this article.

Why do this?

Because the city is dying. Federal dollars are being cut for delivery of services to your most neglected communities, which include many citizens beyond African-Americans. Jobs will be cut, and efficiency will not necessary happen, because folks will slow down or make work if they believe their job is threaten.

Will our opinions be heard?

No. You can share them, but your opinions will be ignored or labeled comments made out of FEAR. In other words, a slick way of calling you ignorant or uninformed. In words expressed earlier at one council meeting by the writer of the guest column, a 1000 can speak but his mind was already made up. Should the question than be does those who are elected care about your opinion.

Same answer: no

The troubling part of this resolution is that the drafters of the resolution removed the threshold rejection, that would have included the public in a vote by the plan committee.

IC 36.1.5 chapter 4
Sec. 9. A reorganization may be initiated by:
(1) adopting a resolution under section 10 of this chapter; or
(2) filing a petition under section 11 of this chapter.
Sec. 10. (a) The legislative body of a political subdivision may initiate a proposed reorganization under this chapter by adopting a resolution that:
(1) proposes a reorganization;
(2) names the political subdivisions that would be reorganized in the proposed reorganization; and
(3) only in the case of a proposed reorganization described in section 1(a)(9) of this chapter, states whether the vote on the public question regarding the reorganization shall be:
(A) conducted on a countywide basis under section 30(b) of

this chapter, without a rejection threshold; or
(B) conducted on a countywide basis under section 30(b) of this chapter, with a rejection threshold.
(b) The clerk of the political subdivision adopting the resolution shall certify the resolution to the clerk of each political subdivision named in the resolution.


Is the process over when the committee designs the plan?

"No, the City Council and the County Commissioners must then review it. The final step is a public referendum in which citizens get the final say as to whether the recommended changes happen."

Sec. 19. The legislative body of each of the reorganizing political subdivisions shall provide for the following:
(1) Consideration of a plan of reorganization presented by a reorganization committee in the form of a resolution incorporating the plan of reorganization in full or by reference.
(2) Reading of the resolution incorporating the plan of reorganization in at least two (2) separate meetings of the legislative body of the political subdivision.
(3) Conducting a public hearing on the plan of reorganization:
(A) not sooner than five (5) days after notice of the public hearing is published under IC 5-3-1; and
(B) before the legislative body takes final action on the resolution to adopt the plan of reorganization. Sec. 20. At a public hearing on a plan of reorganization conducted under section 19 of this chapter, or in a public meeting held not more than thirty (30) days after the public hearing concludes, a legislative body of a reorganizing political subdivision shall do one (1) of the following: (1) Adopt the plan of reorganization as presented to the legislative body.
(2) Adopt the plan of reorganization with modifications.
(3) Reject the plan of reorganization and order a reorganization committee to submit a new plan of reorganization within thirty (30) days after the legislative body rejects the plan of reorganization.


Yep. The public question will go forward, but the ultimate goal has been achieved, a plan is drafted and all they will need to do is some revision and try to sell it to a new taker.