1/12/2006
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622
Monica Whitfield Brase, [317] 327-3690 |
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Peterson: ‘Daniels plan to streamline local government is important step forward’
INDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson today said that Gov. Mitch Daniels’ four-point plan to modernize and streamline local government is an important step in the right direction for more effective and efficient local government services.
"Local government reform is long overdue in Indiana," Mayor Peterson said. "We have been pushing for the past several years in Indianapolis to modernize, streamline and eliminate unnecessary layers of government, and I’m very excited that Gov. Daniels and many members of the state legislature are of the same mind."
In the Daniels plan announced today, the governor addressed certain issues that are also addressed in Indy Works ’06, including merging elected township tax assessors under existing county assessors and giving local units of government more autonomy to consolidate on their own.
Gov. Daniels also called for measures to provide more fiscal flexibility to cities and counties, as well as transferring a portion of child welfare costs to the state, a move the Mayor has supported for some time.
"As with any proposal, there are several points that merit further discussion and possibly some adaptation, but Gov. Daniels’ plan is a significant step forward in the battle for government reform," Peterson said.
Peterson also said that these proposals were consistent with the philosophy of Hometown Matters, the local government fiscal reform measure proposed by the Indiana Association of Cities & Towns, an organization Peterson serves as president.
Indianapolis Works ’06 would improve local services and save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year by:
· Merging nine separate fire departments in Marion County into the Indianapolis Fire Department;
· Eliminating nine elected township trustees and boards in Marion County, in favor of two trustees and boards for delivering poor relief; and
· Eliminating nine elected township tax assessors and moving those functions and resources under the existing County Assessor.
By state law, the Indiana General Assembly must approve these measures before they can occur.
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