Township Trustee can stay-Nepotism must go

Well the Indiana State Senate moved closer to consolidating government on February 24. The Senate amended Senate Bill 512. The amendment did not close down the townships. What the amendment does is eliminate board members, close family ties and county oversight of dollars directed to the township.

"Provides that on January 1, 2013, the township boards in each county not having a consolidated city are abolished. Specifies that after December 31, 2012, in a county not having a consolidated city: (1) the county fiscal body is the fiscal body and legislative body of each township in the county; and (2) the county fiscal body shall exercise the legislative and fiscal powers assigned in the Indiana Code to township boards, including the authority to adopt the township's annual budget and to levy township property taxes for township funds.

Provides an exception for a township that is involved in a reorganization under the government modernization statutes . Specifies that in such a township: (1) the township board remains in existence and retains its powers and duties until the effective date of the reorganization plan is approved; (2) if the township board adopts a resolution declining to participate in the proposed reorganization or if the reorganization is otherwise terminated, the township board is abolished on the later of January 1, 2013, or January 1 of the year following the year in which resolution declining to participate is adopted or the reorganization is otherwise terminated; and (3) if the proposed reorganization is not completed before January 1, 2017, the township board is abolished on that day.

Provides that when formulating an annual budget, a township must consider: (1) the ending balance that will remain in each township fund relative to the budgeted expenditures from the fund; and (2) whether the part of the balance in excess of 10% of budgeted expenditures should be used instead of imposing additional property taxes for the ensuing year. Requires the department of local government finance to consider those factors when reviewing a township's budget, tax rate, and tax levy. Prohibits a relative of a township officer or employee from being employed by the township in a position that would put the relative in a direct supervisory or subordinate relationship with the officer or employee.

Provides that a township employee who marries another township employee may not continue in the same position if the employee would have a direct supervisory or subordinate relationship with the employee's spouse. Specifies that until January 1, 2011, a township employee is not required by these provisions to be terminated or reassigned from any position held by that individual before July 1, 2009.

Requires the state board of accounts to annually prepare a report that includes certain information regarding each township. Requires the report to be submitted to the executive director of the legislative services agency and to county councils. Specifies that each township office must include the address, phone number, and regular office hours (if any) of the township office in at least one local telephone directory.

Provides that a public meeting or a public hearing of a township official or governing body may not be held in a private residence. Requires a township trustee's annual report to list separately each expenditure that is made to reimburse the township trustee for the township trustee's use of personal property for public business, including any reimbursements made for the use of a private residence, personal telephone, or personal vehicle for public business."

So it appears the lobbying groups, such as Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Mysmartgov.org will have to hit up county government to kill off the trustees.

For now.