Indiana lawmakers looking to put money back in Hoosiers' pockets should look to the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform's recommendations for inspiration.

A Ball State University study released Monday attached some dollar signs to the recommendations put forth in December 2007 by that commission.

Consolidating local government agencies at the county level could reduce the cost of government by $400 million to $622 million annually, according to the Ball State report by Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research, and Dagney Faulk, the center's director of research.

Here's how the report by Hicks and Faulk says consolidation could cut annual costs for various services:

* Fire services could be $74.3 million cheaper, a savings of $12.07 per person statewide.

* Police protection could cost $85.3 million less, a savings of $13.85 per resident.

* Sewerage savings would be $111.5 million, or about $18.11 per person.

* Administrative expenses in counties with a population of 100,000 -- including Lake, Porter and LaPorte -- would be cut by $52.3 million, a savings of $8.48 per resident.

* Library expenses would be reduced $62.7 million, about $10.16 per resident.

"Dissatisfaction with local government has been brewing for decades," Faulk said. "Residents perceive government spending to be out of line, and consolidation is one way to address this."

Not only could government be less expensive, but it could improve services as well.

That's the point of the statewide recommendations by the bipartisan commission headed by former Gov. Joe Kernan and Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard. The Good Government Initiative in Lake County put forth a privately funded study by Maximus Inc. that likewise promoted increased government efficiencies.

Government in Indiana is so fragmented that a person can live within as many as 11 local government taxing districts. That includes the county, municipality, township, school district and other special districts. In counties with more taxing districts -- like Lake County -- government is less efficient, according to the Ball State study.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has made local government reform one of his legislative priorities. There are several bills in the Indiana General Assembly aimed at implementing these Kernan-Shepard recommendations.

The Ball State study should provide the additional leverage needed to move lawmakers toward bringing the archaic structure of local government all the way from the mid-19th century to the 21st century.