Trustees lead backlash against bill to dissolve Indiana townships, fire territories

 

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- There's a new bill being considered at the Indiana Statehouse that would dissolve all township governments across the state.

"I think it's terrible as written. It would be a disaster in the making," said Trustee Jason Critchlow, (D) Portage Township. "The idea that with one swipe of the pen, getting rid of all township government, transferring all assets and responsibilities to the counties, in just a year or two's time, I think the rollout alone would be a total disaster."

The bill, authored and filed by Republican Rep. Karen Engleman from Southern Indiana, can be found Here. 

All over the state except Marion County all township responsibilities would be absorbed into the county; that's all 1000 townships across the Hoosier state consolidated into its 92 counties. This includes fire service.

"At this point, I would not trust the counties in Indiana to run lemonade stands, let alone something as complicated and nuanced as the fire service," Critchlow said.

ABC57's Annie Kate spoke with several trustees across St. Joseph County's 13 townships, many opposed to such a bill.

"Those of us who have budgeted our money carefully should not have to turn over what we have done, for me 19 years, over to someone else," said Trustee Sue Dittmar, (R) Liberty Township.

"I really don't think it's a good idea," said Trustee Jennifer Robinson, (D) German Township. "As a trustee, our major job is to help people who are in need, for electric, gas, water, housing, that type of thing. I don't think that's something that the county would like to take over."

Trustee Ken Lindsay (R) of Harris Township does not support the bill as written, but said it had some good ideas.

"Do you really know which township you live in? Most folks don't. If there's 13 in the county and you're all kind of doing the same things, does that matter?" he said.

He said he believes the current fire territory system is broken.

"You have to change the boundaries of a fire territory in order to collect more taxes, in order to pay these folks, the market rate," he said. "Now, there's intense competition for fire and EMS personnel... If you ask me, I think the entire county should be one firefighting and prevention structure. That's not what this bill says."

All the trustees say folks have been trying to dissolve townships for decades and they don't see this bill going anywhere.

"The local, local folks have a voice when it comes to township government," Critchlow said. "I think this would be taking away their voice."

ABC57 reached out to Rep. Engleman but did not hear back.

The Indiana Township Association released the following statement to ABC57:

The Indiana Township Association stands opposed to HB 1233 which attempts to eliminate township government and unnecessarily jeopardizes public safety by shifting all local firefighting to a county-based system. We will continue the conversation with lawmakers on how local government can be more efficient while delivering essential services.

In 2023 we delivered to the Indiana General Assembly a study on the effectiveness and efficiency of townships conducted by the IU Public Policy Institute. This extensive research helped draw a roadmap for true efficiencies. We will continue to promote positive changes without dismantling a level of government that has the safety and well-being of our citizens as our primary focus.

The Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association, also releasing a statement that can be read Here.