Duties of Indiana Township Trustees
By far the largest single group of elected officials in Indiana, Township
Trustees govern 1,008 townships covering every part of the state. Like
most elected officials, the Township Trustee serves a four year term.
Many Township Trustees work at other jobs in addition to serving their
constituents.
Assisting the Township Trustee in managing this very localized form
of government is a three member Township Board. Among its duties are
the adoption of the annual budget, serving as a board of finance, and
approving township contracts.
Indiana law requires that the Township Trustees provide essential services
to the residents and businesses of the Township. Because of its "grassroots"
structure, the Township Trustee system is designed specifically to quickly
meet the needs of the individual in an emergency.
Fire Protection
Township Trustees are, by Indiana law, charged with the responsibility
of providing fire protection for the areas of the
township not incorporated into a city or town. Townships have the option of providing ambulance Service. The protection can be
provided by contracting with various fire departments, operating a Township
Fire Department, or a combination of both. (IC36-8)
Poor Relief
Overseeing the poor and distributing poor relief is a primary duty
in many townships. The trustee is charged to care for the poor by the
most economical means available and at the same time is charged to be
sure that the necessary needs of an individual or family are met. The
applicant must show that they are unable to provide those needs through
personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means.
Many trustees creatively cooperate with other agencies and churches
in their areas, keeping costs controlled and delivering services needed.
The advantage the Trustee's systems has over other forms of welfare
is the freedom to discern whether or not an individual has and is willing
to put forth that personal effort to help themselves. (Title 12 of IN
Code)
Burials
Burial assistance is available from the Township Trustee when no other
means of payment are available. The trustee, according to IC Title 12,
is to oversee the burial of the indigent.
Assessing
In townships with a population under 10,000 the trustee is also the
township assessor and is responsible for assessing the real and personal
property within their township.
Personal property is assessed yearly and consists of mobile homes and
tangible personal property of an individual, business, or farm. Real
property is assessed during a reassessment period with new buildings
being added yearly.
Financials
Each August, the trustee prepares and submits a budget for the incoming
year to the three-person township board for approval. As the Chief Financial
Officer of the township, the trustee pays and records all claims for
the township expenses and salaries and is responsible to keep accurate
records and follow all the financial guidelines set out in Indiana Code.
In January of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual
report which shows all receipts, expenditures, investments and debts.
The approved report is then published in local papers for public inspection.
Cemetery Maintenance
According to IC Code 23-14 the trustee is to provide and maintain cemeteries
located in the township. This includes those cemeteries which have been
abandoned.
Weed Control
IC15-3-4 charges the trustee with destroying detrimental weeds within
their township. Guidelines for notification to the property owner are
set within the law.
Fence Disputes
When a dispute arises between two land owners regarding placement and
maintenance of line fences, the trustee is to make determination according
to Indiana law 32-10-9.
Miscellaneous Duties
There are other areas of responsibility for trustees that are not widespread.
Those include:
- Parks and Recreation
- Zoning & Planning
- Small Claims Court
- Emergency Medical Service
- Schools
- Community Centers
- Shelters
- Libraries
