Senate township bill moves forward
INDIANAPOLIS— A bill that would significantly alter township government in Indiana passed through the Senate Thursday on a 29-19 vote.
Senate Bill 240 would change township government in Indiana after Dec. 31, 2012. The bill, if made law, would transfer the powers currently held by township government to the county level.
The bill also includes new rules that would be in effect until the townships were abolished. The new rules, among other things, would force townships to provide their contact information in a local directory and force public meetings to be held in public places. New rules concerning nepotism also are included in SB 240.
The bill’s author, Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville, said following the bill’s passage that she is pleased SB 240 passed out of the Senate.
“I’m very excited it got out, I think it’s really in good shape. It gives fiscal oversight for townships and just does a lot of really good government reforms. I’m very excited about it getting out of the…Senate,” Lawson said.
David Bottorff, executive director of the Association of Indiana Counties, said following the bill’s passage that the General Assembly is looking to reform local government through multiple bills.
“Obviously, there’s still some interest in changing township government,” Bottorff said.
Debbie Driskell, executive director of the Indiana Township Association, said SB 240's passage through the Senate was not a victory for good government.
"It takes government one step farther away from the people," she said.
Lawson’s bill is not the only bill making its way through the General Assembly. House Bill 1181, which would allow Hoosiers to vote township by township on whether to keep that form of government, passed through the House earlier in the session and now will move to the Senate
