INDIANA Township Governments (1,008)

Indiana ranks 10th among the states in The entire area of the state is encompassed by number of local governments, with 3,231 as of township governments. Some township October 2007. governments in Indiana serve in a dual capacity as “civil” and “school” townships. COUNTY GOVERNMENTS (91) Although identical in area and governed by the same elected trustee, individual townships The entire area of the state is encompassed by operate in each capacity as a distinct entity. county government except for the former The civil townships are counted as township county of Marion. Marion County and the City governments for census purposes; the school of Indianapolis are consolidated to operate as townships are counted under “Public School one government, designated the City of Systems,” below. Indianapolis. Indianapolis is counted for census purposes as a municipal government PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS (293) rather than as a county government. 1 In Indiana counties with organized county School District Governments (293) government, the governing body is called the board of commissioners. The following types of school districts in Indiana are counted as separate governments SUBCOUNTY GENERAL PURPOSE for census purposes: GOVERNMENTS (1,575) School townships The subcounty general purpose governments School cities and school towns in Indiana consist of the municipal (city and Township school corporations town) governments and the township County school corporations--1949 law governments. County school corporations--1969 law Consolidated school corporations Municipal Governments (567) Metropolitan school districts Community school corporations Municipal governments in Indiana are United school corporations designated cities and towns. Cities are further divided into three classes as follows: All types of school districts in Indiana are considered by Indiana law to be school First class–600,000 inhabitants or more corporations. All may levy school taxes and Second class--35,000 to 599,999 borrow money. Each school township is inhabitants governed by one elected township trustee. In Third class--fewer than 35,000 most instances, school cities and school towns inhabitants are governed by an elected board of school commissioners. Township school corporations Other municipalities of any population are are governed by elected township school called towns. Conversion from town to city trustees. County school corporations under status, or from city to town status, however, is the 1949 law are governed by a county board not automatic. Provision is made for towns of education that is either appointed or with a population of more than 2,000 to popularly elected. County school corporations become cities upon petition of voters and after created under the 1969 law governed by an referendum. Cities may become towns upon elected board of education. petition of two thirds of the taxpayers to the circuit court. All cities and towns exist within Consolidated school corporations may be township areas. formed by the merger of any two or more school corporations. The school board of a consolidated school corporation may be appointed or elected. Joint programs are established by agreements between the sponsoring school districts. The Metropolitan school districts are mergers of programs are classified as joint educational two or more school corporations of any type in service agencies of the sponsoring school a single county or in adjoining counties. These districts and are not counted as separate districts are governed by an elected governments. metropolitan board of education. Special education cooperatives may be Community school corporations may be created by two or more school corporations. created by merging, subdividing, or These cooperatives are governed by a board reorganizing any two or more school of managers per the authorizing agreement. corporations. These districts are governed by The cooperatives are classified as joint a board of trustees that may be either elected educational service agencies of the sponsoring or appointed. United school corporations are school districts and are not counted as community school corporations comprising separate governments. territory in two or more adjacent counties. Public school foundations may be created by Dependent Public School Systems (0) school corporations using grants or gifts. The governing body of the school corporation Indiana has no dependent public school appoints the board members of the foundation. systems. The foundation distributes the income from the endowment to the school corporation to be Other Educational Activities used for educational purposes. The foundations are not counted as separate Indiana law generally authorizes interlocal governments. agreements between school districts. These agreements provide for exercise of powers by School building corporations in Indiana are one or more school districts on behalf of other discussed under "Special District parties to the agreement or jointly by the Governments," below. participating entities. Agencies created by such interlocal agreements between school SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS (1,272) districts are classified as joint educational service agencies of the sponsoring school Indiana statutes authorize the creation of a districts and are not counted as separate variety of special districts or authorities that are governments. counted as governments. These are discussed in detail below. Vocational education schools may be established by one or more school Area Park Districts corporations. They are classified as joint educational service agencies of the sponsoring An area park district, to provide public parks, school corporations and are not counted as may be established under general law by the separate governments. ordinances of two or more counties. The governing board consists of members Educational service centers provide the appointed by each participating county with sharing of programs and services among representation in proportion to population. The school corporations. The centers are area park districts may set and levy ad valorem established by the state department of taxes. education but are locally governed. They are counted as joint education service agencies of City-County Building Authorities the participating school districts and are not counted as separate governments. Authorities to finance public buildings, hospitals, public markets, or correctional facilities may be established by resolution of governs the authority. The board of trustees, the fiscal body of a city constituting the county in turn, appoints the five-member board of seat, the county commissioners, and the directors which is responsible for control of the county council after petition of these governing toll road authority. The board of directors of an bodies to the county auditor and a public authority may fix fees, tolls, and charges, and hearing. Each such authority is governed by a may issue revenue bonds. five-member board of directors appointed by a majority vote of the building authority trustees In Marion County, construction and financing of who, in turn, are appointed by the mayor and toll roads by authorities organized under this the common council, the county law requires approval by the city-county commissioners, and the county council. The legislative body and the legislative body of the authority board of directors may issue revenue unit involved. Thus, authorities of this type in bonds and collect rentals for the lease of Marion County are not counted as separate properties constructed for use by the governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and sponsoring governments. Areas,” below.

Conservancy Districts Drainage Districts

Conservancy districts may be formed for any Drainage districts may be organized by the or all of the following purposes: flood circuit court on petition of land owners in the prevention and control; reclamation; irrigation; area, subject to public hearing. A board of water supply; sewage collection, treatment, three drainage commissioners, appointed by and disposal; regulation of water courses; and the county commissioners, governs each provision of parks and facilities in connection district. The boards may levy special with water management. These districts may assessments. be established by the circuit court upon petition by freeholders or by a municipality. Approval is East Chicago Waterway Management subject to review by the state natural resources District commission and hearings conducted by both the circuit court and the state natural resources Authorized in 1994, the district is governed by commission. A board of directors, elected by a seven-member board of directors of whom the freeholders at the annual district meeting, four are appointed by the executive of East governs each district. These boards may Chicago, two by the Governor, and one by the charge rates and fees, levy ad valorem and legislative body of East Chicago. The district special benefit taxes, and issue revenue was created to ease navigation and to improve bonds. water quality in the Indiana Harbor and Canal and in the Grand Calumet River. Multiple Subdistricts established by conservancy local, state, and federal agencies are districts are not counted as separate participating under interagency agreements governments. Levee associations and districts and memoranda of understanding. The district may reorganize under the conservancy district is authorized to impose user fees for statutes. waterways and public facilities.

County Toll Road Authorities Hospital Bonding Authorities

Authorities to acquire, construct, finance, and These authorities are created by resolution of operate toll roads are established by the governing body of any county, second- or resolution of one or more counties and third-class city, or town in which one or more municipalities that are county seats of those private nonprofit hospitals, following a written counties, subject to public hearing. A board of request by the hospital governing board. A five trustees appointed by officials of board of five directors, appointed by the board participating counties and their county seats of county commissioners or by the city or town executive, governs each authority. The Electric power agencies serving only one authorities may set rates; collect rents, fees, municipality are classified as dependent and charges; and issue revenue bonds. agencies of the municipality they serve and are not counted as separate governments. See Housing Authorities “Subordinate Agencies and Areas,” below.

Housing authorities may be established by a Joint Park Districts city, town, or county by resolution of its governing body. The mayors of cities or the Joint park districts may be created by two or legislative bodies of towns or counties appoint more neighboring cities or towns by ordinance. the housing authority commissioners. The The park boards of the cities and towns uniting authorities may issue revenue bonds and fix constitute a joint park board. The joint park and collect rents. board determines the amount of money that each participating government must Indianapolis is authorized to designate a appropriate for the support of the district. department, division, or agency of the consolidated city government to perform the Library Building Corporations public housing function and such an entity is not classified as a special district government. A library building corporation may be established to provide library buildings under Interstate Airport Authorities lease-purchase arrangements. Establishment is upon petition by resident taxpayers of a Authorities to provide airports may be library district or municipality that operates a established by joint agreement between local library and determination of such building governments in Indiana and any adjoining needs. The building corporation may issue state upon resolution or ordinance of the revenue bonds to finance facilities in governing bodies of all governments. An accordance with a plan approved by the appointed board consisting of representatives lessee, subject to public hearing and state of all participating governments, as spelled out government approval. in the agreement creating the authority, governs each authority. Authorities may Library Districts impose fees for its facilities and services and may issue revenue bonds. Class one library districts are all districts established after March 13, 1947; class two The Chicago-Gary Regional Airport Authority is library districts are those established prior to described under “Illinois--Special District March 14, 1947, and that have not converted Governments.” to class one districts. A class one library district may be established in a municipality, Joint Electric Power Agencies township, county, or part of a county that meets population and land value requirements. Joint electric power agencies may be created Districts are created by resolution of the by two or more municipalities, by resolution or governing body of the municipality, township, ordinance of their respective governing bodies, or county either upon the governing body’s to provide electric power. A board consisting own initiative or upon voter petition. A library of one commissioner appointed by the board of seven members, appointed by the governing body of each participating governing bodies of the county, municipalities, municipality governs the agency. The agency townships, or school districts served, governs may fix, charge, and collect rents, rates, fees, each district. The districts may levy ad and charges and may issue revenue bonds. valorem taxes and issue bonds. Provisions The Indiana Municipal Power Agency was concerning the class two library districts are established under this law. similar to those governing class one districts. Class two library districts may levy ad valorem taxes. Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority Library Services Authorities This authority was created by special act to Authorities to provide library services to fund airports, transportation, shoreline participating public and private libraries are development, and other economic projects. created by joint agreement between two or The law applies to the Lake and Porter more libraries. A board of directors composed counties and the cities of East Chicago, Gary, of one to four representatives of each and Hammond. The authority is governed by a participating library governs each authority. board consisting of representatives of the The authority may prorate the amount to be participating counties and cities, plus members contributed by each participating library and appointed by the Governor. The authority may may establish and collect fees for service. issue bonds and set leases. The authority receives funding from the participating local Multiple County Juvenile Facility Authorities governments as established by the authorizing act. Authorities to acquire, construct, operate, and maintain juvenile welfare and confinement Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation facilities are established by ordinance of two or District more counties after intergovernmental agreement. A board of directors consisting of This district, formed in 1977 by general law three representatives from each participating with special application, upon ordinance of county (the county executive a juvenile or counties served, provides interstate commuter circuit court judge, and a member of the county rail service, the South Shore Line, between governing body) governs each authority. The Chicago, Illinois, and South Bend, Indiana, with authority may receive contributions from service through Lake, La Porte, Porter, and St. participating counties pursuant to a formula Joseph counties. A board of trustees, established in the intergovernmental consisting of one trustee appointed by the agreement creating the authority. No multiple county commissioners of each county served, county juvenile facility authorities were one trustee who is a member of the county of reported in operation as of October 2007. council of each county served, and three trustees appointed by the Governor, governs Multiple Jurisdiction Infrastructure the district. The district may fix rates, fees, and Authorities tolls for use of its facilities and may issue revenue bonds. Authorities to assist in the development of infrastructure may be established by ordinance Regional Transportation Authorities--1981 of the participating municipalities and, if the Law county is participating, order of the county executive. A joint agreement specifying the Regional transportation authorities may be contribution of funds by the participating established by ordinance of the governing governments also must be created. A board of body of any county or municipality to provide directors consisting of two representatives of public transit services. Other counties or each participating government (one appointed municipalities within the same planning district by the chief executive and one by the fiscal may join. The authority board is appointed by body) governs the authority. The authority executives and governing bodies of local may fix fees, rates, and charges and may issue governments within the authority area plus revenue bonds. members appointed by the Governor and by labor organizations representing transit workers as specified by statute. These authorities may charge fares, rents, and other fees and may issue revenue bonds. These districts may be known as “regional bus Solid Waste Management Districts authorities.” Authorities to provide solid waste management Regional Water, Sewage, and Solid Waste facilities are established by ordinance of one or Districts more counties. The board of directors includes members appointed by the executives and the These districts are established by order of the governing bodies of participating cities and state department of environmental counties and ex officio members of those management either upon petition of one or governments as specified by statute. The more governments within the territory of the district may charge fees, levy ad valorem taxes proposed district or, for state-owned land, upon and special assessments, and issue bonds. petition of the state department of natural resources. Districts established prior to 1972 In Marion County, similar districts are governed were established by court order. Public by the Indianapolis board of public works ex hearing is required. Districts may be officio and are not counted as separate established to provide one or more of water governments. See “Subordinate Agencies and supply, sewage treatment, and solid waste Areas,” below. disposal. The board is appointed by local officials or are popularly elected. The board SUBORDINATE AGENCIES AND AREAS may include gubernatorial appointees. In a district in which a state correctional facility is Shown below are various governmental located, the state department of correction designations in Indiana that have certain may be represented on the board. The characteristics of governmental units but that trustees may fix rates and charges for services are classified in census statistics as and may issue revenue bonds. subordinate agencies of the state or local governments and are not counted as separate School Building Corporations--1947 and governments. Legal provisions for some of the 1957 Laws larger of these are discussed below (see "Public School Systems," above, regarding A school building corporation may be educational agencies of this nature). established to provide school buildings under lease-purchase arrangements, upon petition of Indiana Finance Authority (state). This the school district by patrons and authority, formerly the Indiana Toll Finance determination of such building needs. The Authority, combined the former state office building corporation may issue revenue bonds building commission, Indiana Development to finance facilities in accordance with a plan Finance Authority, Indiana Transportation approved by the lessee and by various state Finance Authority, and the Recreational agencies. Development Commission. The Indiana Finance Authority issues revenue bonds Soil and Water Conservation Districts payable from lease rentals under lease agreements with various state agencies to A single soil and water conservation district, finance the building or acquiring of state with boundaries conterminous with county buildings and structures. The authority is boundaries, exists in each county of the state. governed by a board consisting of the director A five-member board of supervisors, of the office of management and budget, the consisting of two members appointed by the state treasurer, and three members appointed state soil conservation board and three elected by the Governor. The authority may issue members, governs each district. These revenue bonds. districts may accept voluntary contributions from any source and may require contributions Indiana Housing and Community from benefitted landowners. Development Authority (state). This authority, created by statute in 1978, provides mortgage credit for low- and moderate-income River Marina Development Commission (in housing. The authority is governed by a Evansville area) seven-member board, including four members St. Joseph River Basin Commission appointed by the Governor, plus the lieutenant Upper Wabash River Basin Commission governor, the finance director of the Indiana Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission Finance Authority, and the state treasurer. The authority may fix charges in connection County with its loans and may issue revenue bonds. Airport authorities (county) City and county capital improvement board of Local improvement bond banks (municipal). managers These agencies are created to market bonds Community revitalization enhancement districts issued by local governments in their respective (county) counties. A board of five directors is appointed County cemetery commissions by the mayor of the city where a bank is County convention and visitors commissions located. These banks may fix fees and (in various counties) charges and may issue revenue bonds. County drainage boards County hospital (building) corporations Other examples include: County onsite waste management districts Economic development commissions (county) State Economic improvement districts (county) Board for Depositories Fire protection districts Crane Development Authority Flood plain commissions (county) Indiana Bond Local boards of aviation commissioners Indiana Economic Development Corporation (county) Indiana Education Savings Authority Local environmental response financing Indiana Educational Facilities Authority districts (counties 148,001 to169,999 Indiana Health Facility Financing Authority population) Indiana Health Informatics Corporation Military base re-use authorities (county) Indiana Natural Resources Foundation Park districts (county) Indiana Port Commission Port authorities (county) Indiana Recycling and Energy Development Public communications systems and computer Board (formerly Indiana Energy Development facilities districts (county) Board) Redevelopment authorities (county) Indiana Secondary Market for Education Redevelopment commissions (county) Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Special improvement districts--1987 law Authority (county) Indiana White River Park Development Tourism boards (Jefferson County) Commission Intelenet Commission (state Municipal telecommunications network) Airport authorities (municipal) Kankakee River Basin Commission Automated transit districts Lake Michigan Marina Development Civic center building authorities in second- Commission class cities (South Bend and Mishawaka) Law Enforcement Academy Building Community revitalization enhancement districts Commission (municipal) Little Calumet River Basin Development County toll road authorities in Marion County Commission (Indianapolis) Maumee River Basin Commission Department of Public Utilities of Consolidated Ohio River Greenway Development City (Indianapolis) Commission Economic development commissions Residual Malpractice Insurance Authority (municipal) River commissions Economic development project districts--1987 law (Indianapolis) Redevelopment authorities (municipal) Economic development project districts--1990 Redevelopment commissions (municipal) law (Evansville, Fort Wayne, Hammond, and Sanitary districts South Bend) Special improvement districts--1987 laws Economic improvement districts (municipal) Waterworks districts Electric power agencies serving a single Waterworks districts in second-class cities of municipality 170,000 to 180,000 population (Evansville - Flood control districts in first-class cities district includes the entire county) (Indianapolis) Flood control districts in second- and third- City-County class cities--1981 law Evansville-Vanderbough Levee Authority Flood plain commissions (municipal) District Fort Wayne-Allen County Convention and Military base re-use authorities (joint) Tourism Authority – created prior to the 1982 Port authorities (joint) law Gary Building Authority Private Associations Indiana Central Canal Maintenance and The horticultural and quarantine districts are Improvement District (Indianapolis) private associations of landowners. These Local boards of aviation commissioners districts are treated for census purposes as (municipal) private associations and are not counted as Local environmental response financing governments. Public school endowment districts (municipalities 7,001 to 7,299 corporations are also out of scope. population) Marion County Capital Improvement Board Indiana laws also provide for various types of Marion County Convention and Recreation local areas for election purposes and Facilities Authority (Indianapolis) administration of justice. Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation (Indianapolis) 1. Fourteen cities and towns located within the Metropolitan Development Commission area of the former county of Marion continue to Metropolitan thoroughfare districts exist as separate governments for census (Indianapolis) purposes: Beech Grove, Clermont, Crows Military base reuse authorities (municipal) Nest, Homecroft, Lawrence, Meridian Hills, *Municipal improvement districts North Crows Nest, Rocky Ripple, Southport, Park districts (municipal) Speedway, Spring Hill, Warren Park, Williams Port authorities (municipal) Creek, and Wynnedale. In addition, all Professional sports and convention townships within the former county of Marion development areas (Indianapolis) continue to exist as separate governments for Public communications systems and computer census purposes. facilities districts (municipal) Public transportation corporations--1965 law