INDIANAPOLIS (July 18, 2007) -- Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and former Governor Joe Kernan have agreed to co-chair a bipartisan commission to examine and make recommendations on reforming and restructuring local government. The Commission on Local Government Reform, announced today by Governor Mitch Daniels, will begin its work in early August.
"I can't imagine two more distinguished and respected Hoosiers to lead this effort," Daniels said. "I'm grateful to both for their willingness to serve their fellow citizens by tackling the root cause of our state's ongoing property tax problems - an outdated and costly system of local and school government."
The commission will review previous studies and analyses of local government reform in Indiana. It will also gather its own information during the process and will consider:
- What local government offices might be eliminated to achieve efficiencies and cost savings for Hoosier taxpayers? Specifically, should township/county property tax assessors be abolished in favor of a uniform process managed by the state?
- What local units of government (including schools and libraries) might be successfully consolidated to reduce overhead and administrative expenses?
- What services or functions of local government might be reduced, eliminated, or provided in new ways to achieve savings for Hoosier taxpayers?
- Is a Constitutional Convention necessary or desirable as a means to achieve significant reforms in the structure and organization of Indiana state government?
In late December, the commission will publish a report to the citizens of Indiana with recommendations on how local governments can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations to lower taxpayer costs. Their ideas will be available for the Indiana General Assembly to discuss during its next session beginning in January 2008.
The idea for the Commission on Local Government Reform was developed in early May - shortly after the close of this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly. The governor initiated a series of discussions with key legislative leaders, local officials and citizens for their feedback and suggestions on the scope of the commission's work.
Local government in Indiana has remained fundamentally unchanged since the Civil War. Today, the state has approximately 2,730 local units of government and an estimated 10,746 elected officials with the authority to tax property. Only nine states have more government than Indiana. For instance, the Hoosier State has 1,009 townships while 31 states have no township offices at all.
"The unneeded overhead of this antique system drains dollars from our school classrooms, from our public safety first responders and from the pockets of property taxpayers," Daniels said. "Indiana will never be able to provide excellent local services at reasonable tax levels until true reform occurs."
Additional members will be appointed to the commission in the near future. The commission will operate under the auspices of the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment at Indiana University, which will provide staff support and facilities for the commission.
A link to the Governor's charge to the Commission may be found at: http://www.in.gov/gov/uploads/071807_Charge_to_Local_Government_Commission.pdf.
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