MySmartGov.org

Fat and happy bureaucrats

The Center Township trustee in Marion County spends more than $3 in property taxes on administration for every $1 distributed in poor relief, the office’s only reason for existence.  The trustee’s office has $7 million in the bank over and above what it will take to fund this year’s emergency assistance budget and owns three multi-million-dollar buildings that house, among other things, a bank and an upscale bar.

Meanwhile, the Noblesville Township advisory board in Hamilton County pays its three members $7,500 a year to attend a one-hour meeting  each month. That comes out to $625 an hour. Board members also get health insurance, courtesy of property taxpayers.
 
And a township trustee in Tippecanoe County works full time as a school teacher, receives an additional $35,000 a year for being the part-time trustee and hired her husband to be her chief deputy.

Does any of this make sense? Is this smart government?

Why should the Center Township trustee’s office own taxpayer-financed buildings? And why should taxpayers – many of whom have to work two or more jobs and can’t afford health insurance for their families – pay exorbitant wages and insurance premiums for part-time advisory board members?

Township trustees and their advisory boards have woefully few duties. They administer emergency assistance and some make sure that township cemeteries are maintained. But we could do away with township government, set a countywide property tax rate for emergency assistance and invite reputable local social service agencies to bid on carrying out the emergency assistance function on a countywide basis. Those measures would save thousands of taxpayer dollars and making sure that emergency assistance is provided in a standardized – and thus fair and equitable – way to those who need it.

If you agree, join us  and we’ll help you easily reach your legislators to tell them to streamline local government.