Mary Elgin
Calumet Township Trustee
As is often noted, every action has a reaction and every cause has an effect.
The "Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform: Streamlining Local Government" report reflects those truisms.
Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has been the guiding light in establishing the commission and issuing its charge, said he did so because total local government spending funded from property taxes has increased at more than twice the rate of inflation and tax base growth. According to the governor the goal envisioned is to reduce the cost of local government by transforming it into one that provides excellent services at reasonable cost.
I agree, in part, with that goal. Who wouldn't? But I question the commission's wielding a scythe to slash at the patient rather than a finely honed scalpel to operate with precision.
While the report talks about statewide problems, the brunt of the problem in Norhhwest Indiana concerns certain property tax problems. The hue and cry over property taxes was raised following a drastic cutback in property taxes paid by regional Big Four corporate behemoths BP, Inland Steel (now ArcelorMittal), LTV Steel (also now part of ArcelorMittal) and U.S. Steel; thereby shifting a greater burden unto homeowners. This was exacerbated when property tax assessment became market-value based; not in itself a bad thing.
The double-whammy on homeowners caused anguish, consternation and outrage. Led by influential upper income homeowners who saw their tax bills spiraling like rampaging tornados, certain regional leaders found a convenient whipping boy in the guise of local government. Monied interests and their academic cohorts shrewdly deflected the rage from the true culprits, the Big Four, to "local government".
Has the commission fully thought through the effects of its recommendations? It recommends a CEO for each county. In other words, a County Czar. Are "We the people" shedding democracy at its lower levels in order to save a buck? Is that what we have come to? However, perhaps we should feel lucky that Daniels hasn't proposed leasing out running local governments to foreign entities.
In its report the commission said it wants to ensure that local government is simple, understandable, responsive, transparent, cost-effective, flexible and utilizes collective purchasing. While I cannot speak for other local government leaders, as Calumet Township Trustee I applaud those goals.
A major recommendation of the commission is to eliminate all 1,008 townships and have the counties assume their responsibilities. The commission gives the rationale that many townships are too small, in terms of land and population, to provide cost-effective public services. If the governor truly believes that, then the commission should have used its scalpel to address that issue rather than the scythe to mow down all townships.
Calumet Township is one of the largest townships. Because of the dire economic need in our area we serve more clients than the population of some counties. Under my administration our township has achieved all the parameters set by the commission and the Good Government Initiative. Our township's administration is understandable and transparent.
