July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Government reform key to session (01/22/08)
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
We can't effectively accomplish property tax reform this session without tackling local government restructuring. Thanks to the comprehensive recommendations from the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform, the pieces are in place to achieve both.
The commission places the emphasis exactly where it needs to be - on increased local government efficiency and reduced spending.
Dramatically trimming the number of local government units and elected officials, as the commission suggests, is a great place to start. Removing duplicative or ineffective layers of government will have two significant results: improved service delivery and taxpayer savings for all.
Naturally, there will be those who push back. Among them are the many elected officials entrenched in the status quo and smaller school corporations rebuffing measures calling for larger, more efficient districts with enhanced course offerings.
Resistance will also assuredly come from township officials who contend that township government is "closest to the people" and should stay.
To be blunt, that specific argument holds no water. In a recent statewide Indiana Chamber survey, two-thirds of Hoosiers not only didn't know who their township officials are, but acknowledged they have never used their services.
For those who do recognize township government's historic functions, it's often for problems with their property assessment from the township assessor's office.
Uniformity in property assessments and increased accountability in the process itself will only be achieved if 92 qualified county assessors take the place of Indiana's current 1,008 township assessors.
Simply put, the General Assembly and Daniels administration must take advantage of the opportunity before them to positively reshape our government operations and services for the benefit of all Hoosiers. As commission co-chair and former Gov. Joe Kernan stated, "If not now, when?"
I urge you to follow the Statehouse activity closely and let your legislators know that now is indeed the time to act. Information will be available throughout the legislative session at www.indianachamber.com.
Kevin Brinegar
President, Indiana
Chamber of Commerce
Indianapolis[[In-content Ad]]
We can't effectively accomplish property tax reform this session without tackling local government restructuring. Thanks to the comprehensive recommendations from the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform, the pieces are in place to achieve both.
The commission places the emphasis exactly where it needs to be - on increased local government efficiency and reduced spending.
Dramatically trimming the number of local government units and elected officials, as the commission suggests, is a great place to start. Removing duplicative or ineffective layers of government will have two significant results: improved service delivery and taxpayer savings for all.
Naturally, there will be those who push back. Among them are the many elected officials entrenched in the status quo and smaller school corporations rebuffing measures calling for larger, more efficient districts with enhanced course offerings.
Resistance will also assuredly come from township officials who contend that township government is "closest to the people" and should stay.
To be blunt, that specific argument holds no water. In a recent statewide Indiana Chamber survey, two-thirds of Hoosiers not only didn't know who their township officials are, but acknowledged they have never used their services.
For those who do recognize township government's historic functions, it's often for problems with their property assessment from the township assessor's office.
Uniformity in property assessments and increased accountability in the process itself will only be achieved if 92 qualified county assessors take the place of Indiana's current 1,008 township assessors.
Simply put, the General Assembly and Daniels administration must take advantage of the opportunity before them to positively reshape our government operations and services for the benefit of all Hoosiers. As commission co-chair and former Gov. Joe Kernan stated, "If not now, when?"
I urge you to follow the Statehouse activity closely and let your legislators know that now is indeed the time to act. Information will be available throughout the legislative session at www.indianachamber.com.
Kevin Brinegar
President, Indiana
Chamber of Commerce
Indianapolis[[In-content Ad]]
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