Indianapolis Star - 9-17-06
The poor among us
With one in 12 Hoosiers struggling to get by, we all have a stake in helping to lift them out of poverty.

The Journal Gazette - 08-04-06
Consolidation Study Gives Mixed Review
The Indiana Policy Review recently released its study on “Consolidating Local Government: What Works and What Doesn’t.” The summary that appears here is accompanied by the resolution approved by the Allen County Common Council in support of the Allen County consolidation effort.

Annual Adjustment Overview - 7-21-06
Annually adjusting property values are part of Indiana’s move to a market-based assessment system that began in 2002. Similar market-based assessment systems are currently being used in 48 other states.

MY VIEW: LUKE KENLEY - 07-09-06
Property tax 'circuit breaker' protects Hoosiers
Recently, some schools and local government officials have been raising a fuss about the "circuit breaker" the General Assembly placed on property taxes this year.

The Journal Gazette - 06-29-06
Officials fear property tax cap to drain revenue
A new state law that caps property taxes in the future is already making it more expensive for cities and schools to borrow money and could cost local governments millions of dollars in revenue, according to local officials who met Thursday.

Circuit Breaker Overview - 7-21-06
The circuit breaker became law in 2006 with the passage of House Enrolled Act 1001. It is aimed at helping Hoosiers by ensuring they don’t pay more than 2 percent of their property value in taxes. The goal is to provide predictability in tax bills and equity among Hoosier
taxpayers.

Indianapolis Star - 1-23-06
Take cautious steps toward government consolidation
The Steven R. Johnson article and companion editorial in The Star (Jan. 15) are thought provoking and well define the problem of dependence on property taxes to support local government.

Indianapolis Star - 1-18-06
Daniels targets townships, and his aim is dead-on
Wells County Assessor Connie S. Prible isn't seeking re-election, so she can risk being blunt about the inadequacies of township government.

Indianapolis Star - 1-23-06
Quality management can improve local government
The Star is correct in advising the Indiana General Assembly to reform the "antiquated system of 2,370 cities, counties, townships, school districts and other local governments" ("To ease property taxes, tackle local government reform first," Jan. 15).

- 1-18-06
Fire Protection Territory would upgrade service
Perry Township, Huntertown and Eel River Township officials are working together to form a Fire Protection Territory, a move that could enhance service and raise property taxes.

NWI Times - Reply by Calumet Township Trustee Mary Elgin - 11/10/05
Don't be so quick to write off township government
While this is a perennial cry of The Times, the editorial, sad to say, reflects no new thinking on the matter. It regurgitates the same old points that townships have outlived their usefulness, poor relief (now officially known as township assistance) could be better done by
the county, parks and other responsibilities should be handed over to the county, etc.

EDITORIAL - NWI Times - 11/06/05
Indiana no longer needs township form of government
The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute's report blasting the property tax reassessment has some excellent advice: Move the assessing function to the county level. Let's take that advice a step further and add what other studies have recommended: Get rid of the township form of government. The institute's study noted the problems with getting such a decentralized bureaucracy as the state's assessing officials to work cohesively.

EDITORIAL - Indy Star, 09/02/05
Mayor's right: It's legislators' fault
Our position: Legislative opposition to government consolidation helped lead to painful budget cuts. Contrary to perception, state Sen. Michael Young says he doesn't think Marion County officials have been slow in approving the merger of the Indianapolis Police Department with the Marion County Sheriff's Department, part of a watered-down version of the Indianapolis Works plan passed by state legislators this spring.

EDITORIAL - The Star Press, 03/07/05
Merging townships could help Indiana
Government in Indiana has a reputation for bureaucratic excess, possibly because it is supported by a lively political system which likes to feather its own nest. While there is more tax money spent at the top of this bureaucratic pyramid, there is also savings to be realized at the bottom, or township level.

The Star Press - 04/04/05
Poverty problem is community-wide concern
By RICHARD SHIREY
It was June of 2001. Community representatives from Muncie on the stage in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Atlanta, Ga., fielded questions from the All-America City finals competition judges. The allotted 20-minute presentation had gone well. We had proudly exposed the judges to three required examples of community collaboration: the Cardinal Greenway, Muncie Center for the Arts, and Youth Opportunity Center.

The Star Press - 04/04/05
Trustees most local form of government
By PATRICIA GRAY
COWAN - Six years ago Nicki Johnson left a campaign trail of footprints that wove in and out of the yards and neighborhoods, doorsteps and living rooms of Monroe Township.

Taxpayers4Truth.com
If you are one of the 500,000 people who live in Marion County, but outside what is commonly called the city limits, the time has come for you to know the whole story about Mayor Bart Peterson’s Indianapolis plan to consolidate government. He has refused to tell you, but we will.

The Noblesville Times 04/04/05
Why IndyWorks won't
By Greg Garrison | Weekly View
Hours, days and even months of reading, interviews and occasional cross examinations have left us mystified at the trackless maze the mayor has woven on the way to civic financial collapse of our fair city. Having just concluded yet another of those inquiries, this time of the president of the fire fighters' union, a few things have started to come just a bit clearer — but only a bit.

EDITORIAL - Indy Star, 03/27/05
Another reason for consolidation: Townships' troubling financial records
"Our position is: Township government is too costly to keep at a time when state and local budgets are in bad shape.
Indianapolis Works opponents continue to insist that the status quo -- township governments -- is the epitome of efficiency. It's a dubious claim given the townships' murky financial records."
Here is a taste of the latest assault on townships by the Indianapolis Star. Last week, an editorial stated that it was not only time for Indianapolis Works, but for the elimination of township government statewide. The Star is on a crusade that appears to have no end but to win at any cost. As you follow these news reports do not believe everything you read! Trustees are being misquoted and their comments taken out of context. --Deb

The Indianapolis Star- March 27, 2005
Business leaders list reasons for support
This letter was sent to Gov. Mitch Daniels and members of the Indiana General Assembly. The Star received a copy.
We are the executive leaders of 36 businesses that collectively have substantial operations and thousands of employees in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana. For three reasons, we are convinced that Mayor Bart Peterson’s Indianapolis Works proposal should be passed by the General Assembly and signed into law this year.
Like my township, I hope you will show solidarity by withholding your patronage, where possible, from the businesses listed as signers. Be sure to follow with a letter and phone call stating the reason they have lost your business. --Deb

Experts grilled on consolidation plan, but doubts remain - 09/30/04
Nitty-gritty details of Mayor Bart Peterson's plan to consolidate local government received a first public airing Wednesday, though many points -- including the proposal's impact on taxes -- remained obscure.

County officials support assessor consolidation - 09/29/04
A day after Gov. Joe Kernan announced his support for consolidating assessing duties in each Indiana county, Allen County officials said they have been trying to do the same thing for more than a year.

Township controversy draws a crowd: Officials, residents take issue with governor's plans - 09/28/04
CAMBRIDGE CITY, Ind. - About 60 elected officials and county residents gathered at the Golay Center on Monday night to discuss the possible elimination of township government. Most of the members of local government are not happy about recent chatter they've heard.

Labor concession sparks fire station deal - 08/25/04
Valparaiso Fire Department's long-awaited third station became closer to reality this week, thanks in part to a wise move by the firefighters union. Firefighters Local 1124 agreed to reduce its minimum staffing requirement to three firefighters to get the station open sooner. Previously, the minimum was four.

Performing worthy services at local level - 08/22/04
The value of township government is found in the timely services it provides to the people. These services include township assistance, formerly known as poor relief; EMS and fire protection; parks; maintenance, preservation and restoration of cemeteries; assessing property for tax purposes; weed control; and paying livestock claims.

'Son of Uni-Gov' might do what its daddy never could - Editorial - 08/22/04
It's time, past time, for modernization of Indiana government. Ample proof was presented by recent confusion, consternation and even chaos over reassessment and property tax bills, with much finger-pointing by officials at various levels of government -- each level seeking to fix blame elsewhere. Who is to blame? Township assessor?

'Indianapolis Works' sets off a tidal wave across state - 08/11/04
When Mayor Bart Peterson announced his proposal to merge township and county government in Indianapolis, the audience at the Indiana History Center applauded vigorously. It was enough to set off a tidal wave from Valparaiso to Evansville.

The township lobby - Editorial - 08/11/04
Indiana has more than 4,000 elected township officials. So it is no surprise that they are flexing their considerable political muscle in fighting the Indianapolis mayor’s proposal to eliminate seven of the nine townships in Marion County.

Indianapolis plan rankles townships - 09/09/04
The effects of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s recent proposal to complete the Unigov city-county mergers begun 34 years ago are being felt in Allen County. Peterson this week proposed sweeping changes to the structure of government in Marion County, many of which would merge functions...

Important to retain township trustees - 06/09/04
The taxpayers of Indiana need to contact their state senators and representatives in support of retaining township government. Serving relatively compact areas many times allows trustees to know their constituents personally.

Township Trustees caution against move to consolidate services - 06/09/04
Recently, several State Legislators have started to question the importance of Township Government in Indiana. It is their belief that by shifting duties to other levels of government, they would save Indiana tax dollars.

Township government provides a lot of value for - Editorial - 5/2/04
Some in Indiana are advocating that we do away with township government. That would be a huge mistake. People need to understand what this issue is really about.

Changes could bring savings, other efficiencies - Editorial - 5/2/04
Effective and cost-efficient delivery of government services should be considered the norm, not the exception. Yet, Indiana has the highest number of separately elected county officials in the entire country and, amazingly, still relies on a multi-layered local government system dating back to 1851. It's time to re-evaluate.

Chamber study results in plenty of flawed conclusions - Editorial - 5/2/04
Township officials live, shop, work and worship in the same community as the people they serve. Township government is "grassroots government."

Township government efficiency debated - 4/22/04
Business and local government representatives squared off in a debate over a township efficiency study that touches on the property tax crisis now hammering Lake County.

Chamber: Indiana's government system inefficient, costly
Indiana's multi-layered government system, dating back to 1851, is inefficient and costly and should be streamlined to reduce taxpayer expenses, charges the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

ITA's Response to The Indiana Project for Efficient Local Government - 3/4/04
The report has been long-awaited by the Indiana Township Association, since no township officials were allowed to participate. In fact, to our knowledge, no local government officials were permitted to participate in the study which begs the question of its validity.

Study faults townships, but proponents defend 'grassroots' government - 3/1/04
As the Indiana Chamber of Commerce prepares to release a report about the cost effectiveness of township government, township officials say this most grassroots form of government is actually the public's biggest bargain.

Don't be too anxious to eliminate townships - 3/1/04 - Editorial
The subject of government obesity is on a lot of minds at Indiana's Statehouse, but part of the recommended diet - eliminating townships - might be unhealthy for Hoosiers.

Study faults townships, but proponents defend 'grassroots' government - 3/1/04
As the Indiana Chamber of Commerce prepares to release a report about the cost effectiveness of township government, township officials say this most grassroots form of government is actually the public's biggest bargain.

Government shake-up draws resistance - 2/29/04
Clutching a pair of prescription drug orders, Vickie Addison stepped hesitantly into a tiny room in the Wayne Township trustee's office here and asked for help.

Study: Condense government to save - 2/28/04
More than $122 million a year could be saved by consolidating duplicate layers of Indiana government, such as township and county offices, contends a study released Friday.

Township costs eyed by state report - 2/28/04
The state could save up to $122 million every year by consolidating township and county government, a study released Friday by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce said.

There's still time if legislature wants to work - 2/25/05
There are three areas in particular that should focus lawmakers' attention; these are bills that should end up with Gov. Joe Kernan's signature.

Lawmakers still could rescue session, pass measures that are good for state - 2/22/04 - Editorial
Our position is: Legislators need to approve common-sense proposals to salvage the session. When the Indiana General Assembly convened last month, lawmakers had 967 bills to consider. Fewer than 300 remained viable late last week.

Township supporters: Small government best - 2/22/04
Only 20 states operate with township governments. Of those 20, Indiana is one of only three that provide poor relief at the township level. A survey commissioned by the Chamber, and...

Long Pulls Merger Bill: Says idea premature; study panel survives - 2/17/04
Legislation allowing Allen County to restructure its system of local government will be withdrawn, a victim of its own success, the bill's author said.

Trustee's shortfalls reflect old system - 2/15/04
A Noble County township trustee's failure to properly respond to a request for heating assistance reflects the systemic shortfalls of an antiquated poor relief system.

Survey questions role of townships - 2/15/04
A survey commissioned by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce has pitted the state’s township trustees against a small group of legislators and businesspersons who would like to see township government either abolished statewide or consolidated within counties.

Township Services By John H. Spinks, Sr. - 2/14/04
Move out of Indiana! This is the message the Democrat Representative Bob Kuzman has hung around the necks of every disadvantage child, hardworking elderly citizen, and unemployed blue collar family in Northwest Indiana.

Merger is tough sell in Grabill: Long hits wall of skeptics at forum - 2/13/04
Sen. David Long acknowledged his bill to let Allen County explore restructuring local government is flawed, but his attempts to address concerns did little to please hundreds of residents packed into the Grabill fire station Thursday.

Porter County Poll shows support for Twp Government - 2/9/04
The elimination of the township government system in Indiana does not have the support of Porter County residents. According to a poll by KLD Marketing Research, 50% of those questioned did not approve of doing away with Indiana's townships.

Study faults townships, but proponents defend 'grassroots' government - 2/7/04
As the Indiana Chamber of Commerce prepares to release a report about the cost effectiveness of township government, township officials say this most grassroots form of government is actually the public's biggest bargain.