Cart“Each letter will contain specific calls to action and, in many cases, strategies for consideration by our government officials,” states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. “Our overall goal is to offer guidance on important policies that will help focus the gubernatorial campaigns on what really matters to Hoosiers and away from personal attacks and other trivialities. By identifying these top priorities for moving our state forward, we hope to elevate the level of debate leading up to the November 4 vote.”
The initial issue letter focuses on the need for local government reform. Below is an excerpt:
No thriving company relies on a 157-year-old business model. Neither can government. If Indiana wants to be a place of prosperity for its citizens, our outdated local government structure cannot continue to be an impediment. The costly inefficiencies of too many local government units were well-documented by the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform (the Kernan-Shepard report). Dr. Michael Hicks, a Ball State University economist, reports savings in the hundreds of millions dollars annually for taxpayers if the Kernan-Shepard reforms are implemented. The next governor and General Assembly must reshape local government for the benefit of all Hoosiers by enacting Kernan-Shepard’s common-sense recommendations.
Some sadly familiar stories:
Public safety. Last winter, the first responders on the scene of a van in a Hamilton County retention pond weren’t a critically needed dive team. Instead, it reportedly took three 911 calls for that emergency crew to arrive. Tragically, four people lost their lives when public safety improvements might have made all the difference.
How did this happen? Because the current system does not foster cooperation among dispatch centers within counties. What happened in Hamilton County could happen virtually anywhere in the state where police, fire and emergency services are not coordinated. Hoosiers daily put their faith in the notion that help will be there when they need it. But unless the state’s 1,150 public safety agencies get connected, the sobering fact is it may not.
Library services. For at least nine months of the year, students at various education levels throughout the state are required to perform research projects. While the Internet has become the resource of choice for many, the value and importance of the local public library cannot be overlooked.
Unfortunately, some students are at a severe disadvantage. There are 400,000 Hoosiers without access to local public library services, many of them young people without home computers who would benefit the most from the world that is opened up to them by the local library. Indiana has more than enough library districts – 239 – but an antiquated structure unnecessarily prevents all residents from being served.
Business and job growth. Whether offering products or services, more Indiana companies are seeking to reach their customers from a variety of locations. This expansion of already successful businesses should be strongly supported and encouraged. But unfortunately in zoning and permitting requirements – just like politics in the old saying – everything is local. A company with a thriving location and productive, well-paid employees in one county may be prevented by the maze of local government hurdles from opening a similar facility (and employing even more Hoosiers) in another Indiana community.
If anyone still doubts that Indiana is suffering from government overload, consider the following:
At the time of the Kernan-Shepard report, there were more than 10,700 local elected officials – more than states two or three times our size.
Indiana has more than 3,200 local units of government – including 1,008 townships and 886 “special” districts
There are 293 school districts and 239 library districts – neither able to provide all the services needed by their constituents, the citizens of our state
What needs to take place under the next governor’s leadership?
- Eliminate townships and township government
- Provide clearer accountability at the county level – not possible with three county commissioners sharing executive powers and nine other separately elected county officials
- Better coordinate public safety services
- Establish school districts that operate more effectively and put as many dollars as possible into classrooms for the benefit of students
- Reform library districts so that no Hoosiers go without this basic service
- Increase efficiency and effectiveness at all local levels through organizational reform and advanced management techniques and technology (just as in business and industry)
This message and subsequent ones are on behalf of the Indiana Chamber’s 125 board members that represent 4,800 member companies employing 800,000 Hoosier workers. “We are asking Gov. Daniels and Ms. Thompson to listen to what these Indiana citizens have to say, take a thoughtful approach throughout the campaign and demonstrate the leadership required to help move Indiana closer to being the absolute best,” Brinegar explains.
Over a decade ago, the Indiana Chamber put forth a similar public action plan, though on a smaller scale. “That contributed to much needed education reform, plus the creation of Indiana’s Education Roundtable by Gov. Frank O’Bannon. So we know this can make a difference and encourage citizens to follow along,” notes Brinegar.
The timeline and subjects for the letters, each letter in full, accompanying video commentary and the opportunity for Hoosiers to share their thoughts on the Chamber blog can be found at www.indianachamber.com/index.php/letters.
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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy organization for 86 years. The more than 4,800 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.
