Howey on local governance

An excellent article by Brian Howey reproduced in this morning's Jeff-NA News-Tribune.

The topic of inefficient local governance is modestly interesting in itself. More important, it connects to Governor Daniels persistent concerns about the same topic and its connection to the property tax issue. As one response of many to the property tax crisis, Daniels appointed the Kernan/Shepard commission to wrestle with Indiana's local governance structure.

From Howey:

The Indiana Township Association (ITA) is hearing the message loud and clear. Posted on its website is an article entitled "Same fight - new area." It begins with: Someone recently commented, "Aw ... they're never going to do away with us. It's the same old fight. Why, I remember back in the 1980s they were talking about getting rid of townships."

But the article seems to sense what many Hoosiers are fuming about as their property tax bills go through the roof and the township-based assessing system hasn't been able to get property tax bills out for dozens of counties...

It's good that the townships now recognize the freight train of change Gov. Daniels promised at his 2004 nominating convention has arrived. His opponent, Gov. Joe Kernan, told the press last Wednesday, "We are urging people to share ideas. Everything is on the table. That was the charge that we were given, which was go look at everything. From our perspective, everything is fair game."