HB 1476 –  Reorganization of Municipality and Township
Authored by Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown)

Allows a municipality in a county (excluding Marion County) to reorganize with a township that has at least 70% of its population within the municipality, if: (1) the municipality adopts a reorganization plan; and (2) more than 50% of the voters in both the municipality and the unincorporated area of the township approve the reorganization plan. Establishes details of the process and requirements for the reorganization plan.

Chamber position: Support

The latest: Last week, the bill was amended to insert the requirement that 50% of the voters in both the municipality and the unincorporated portion of the township (the area outside the municipality) must approve the plan. This week, the Government and Regulatory Reform Committee finished hearing testimony, but the chair, Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart), elected to hold the bill and not take a vote. Giving the deadline for bills to pass their house of origin, this means the bill is dead.

Indiana Chamber action/commentary: The Chamber testified last week, making the case that affected taxpayers of a municipality and a township, where there is a substantial overlap of population, ought to have the opportunity to vote for a plan to consolidate services provided by the two governmental entities. The opponents characterized the process as an elimination of elected officials, ignoring the fact that it requires the approval of both the citizens of the municipality and the unincorporated portion of the township. The bottom line in this debate is that the township officials do not want their own citizenry to be given the ability to determine the fate of their offices. Townships are dedicated to their self-preservation and dismiss the notion that a detailed, planned out merger that is vetted and approved by their constituents might just provide better, more efficient and effective services – if it threatens their own existence.

Resource: Bill Waltz at (317) 264-6887 or email: bwaltz@indianachamber.com