Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 Volume 10, Number 1 Page 1 of 9 he Gov reorganization T picking up steam Howey Local officials, candidates eye change By BRIAN A. HOWEY in Indianapolis You know that crazy idea that Howey’s been yammer- ing about for the past six months or so ... you know, dramati- Political cally reorganizing government at the state and local level? Well, I’ve been thinkin’, maybe he’s got something there .... * * * Report Out of the yolk of a potential property tax crisis and a populist uprising in the make, there has been a fascinating The Howey Political Report is published by NewsLink realization by key state and local political figures that Inc. Founded in 1994, The Howey Political Report is Indiana’s 1851 era style of government is obsolete, duplica- an independent, non-partisan newsletter analyzing the political process in Indiana. tive, costly and unresponsive. You may bear witness to the rising tide: Brian A. Howey, publisher 1.) Democrat Joe Andrew is calling for a constitu- Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington writer tional convention. “I believe instead of talking about change, Jack E. Howey, editor it comes from building consensus,” Andrew told HPR this morning. “A constitutional convention would allow us to The Howey Political Report Office: 317-254-1533 PO Box 40265 Fax: 317-968-0487 look at township government and the complications of multi- Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265 Mobile: 317-506-0883 ple bodies -- cities, counties and townships. There are over- [email protected] lapping jurisdictions of first responders with too many peo- www.howeypolitics.com ple not talking to each other.” Andrew asked, “What is the dollar value of township government? I believe we’re talking Washington office: 202-775-3242; Business Office: 317-254-0535. tens of millions of dollars. And how much is home rule worth?” Subscriptions: $250 annually via e-mail or 2.) House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, at a fax; $450 annually including the HPR Daily Statehouse press conference on Tuesday, where he blamed Wire. Call 317-254-1533 or 254-0535. everyone from local assessors to the Indiana Supreme Court © 2003, The Howey Political Report. All rights for the property tax mess, told the Fort Wayne Journal reserved. Photocopying, Internet forwarding, faxing or Gazette that there are options to look at in the 2004 legisla- reproducing in any form, in whole or in part, is a viola- tive session that could improve, but not solve, the situation. tion of federal law and is strictly prohibited without They include eliminating the township form of government consent of the publisher. “If someone opens fire from the balcony, I Ticker: LSA studies taxes p. 2 want all the guns I can shooting back. Unless, Andrew course differs from Bayh p. 4 of course, there are schoolkids up there.” Reed undecided on fourth term p. 5 Horse Race 04: Pastrick rests p. 6 - State Rep. Matt Whetstone, on why he Columnists: Redmond, Colwell p. 8 carries a gun on the House floor Perhaps We Wander: Fear ‘n’ guns p. 9 Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 Page 2 of 9 and reorganizing county government in an weren’t even there,” McIntosh said. attempt to save local tax dollars. He also related a conversation with 3.) Republican Fort Wayne may- the Center Township trustee in Delaware oral candidate Linda Buskirk writing in County who acknowledged to the candi- her “We Can Do Better” election plan, date that “we could probably get along explained, “I emphasize the need to pro- without my job.” LSA STUDY SHOWS VARY- mote cooperation between local units of 7.) His Republican primary oppo- ING TAX SHIFTS: An analy- government, even to the point of merger.” nent, Mitch Daniels, also has been sis prepared by the The significance is that Buskirk’s pro- sounding out local officials about the Legislative Services Agency shows that the average tax nouncement comes in the heat of a may- accumulative layers of fat in government bill for owner-occupied oral campaign in a city where local as he does his 92-county tour in 100 days. homes has dropped in four Republicans excoriated Buskirk’s former “There’s a general agreement that we’ve of the six counties studied boss, Mayor Paul Helmke, for suggesting got duplicative layers of government and (Lesley Stedman, Louisville the same last decade. the subject is worthy of debate,” Daniels Courier-Journal). Even in 4.) Floyd County Commissioner told HPR on Monday. He said many of his Marion County, where John Reisert says a forecast of slow pop- conversations have been with elected many Indianapolis residents ulation growth for Floyd County could county and township officials, some of are complaining about huge push city and county governments to whom acknowledge the need for stream- tax increases as a result of merge more departments in an effort to lining. a new property-assessment process, barely more than reduce costs in the face of a stagnant tax 8.) State Sen. Vi Simpson, a half of the bills for owner- base (Louisville Courier-Journal). One of Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is occupied homes actually the things that Reisert said may have to be recommending that anyone interested in rose. The average Indiana- considered is combining the city and reorganizing government read the Crowe polis increase was $84, county police departments. Chizek Compete Study compiled in the according to the study. 5.) Last April, East Chicago mid 1990s. “One of the aspects of the In Vanderburgh County, Mayor Robert Pastrick told the Times of Compete Study is to rethink not only nearly 54 percent of tax bills Northwest Indiana editorial board, “I township government and services, but a for owner-occupied homes believe strongly in consolidation. I know lot of others: How we deliver services at increased. Still, the average bill actually fell by an aver- that sounds odd, running for mayor of one county and city level,” Simpson told HPR. age of 2 percent, or about city.” Pastrick talked about uniting East “Rather than studying it all over again, we $19. In Hamilton County Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, Highland ought to dust off the Compete Study and nearly 80 percent of tax bills and Munster into “Metrolake, Indiana,” take another look. It’s a good starting for owner-occupied homes which would supplant Fort Wayne as place.” fell. The average bill was Indiana’s second largest city. “The five Simpson and State Rep. Sue $230 less than the previous communities would make a larger city Scholer were two legislators who partici- year. In Howard County, with a lot of clout and would make for a pated the Compete Study and introduced where Kokomo is located, whole community,” Pastrick said. several government streamlining bills in the average tax bill for an owner-occupied home went 6.) Republican gubernatorial can- the legislature that were not successful. “It down 15 percent, or about didate David McIntosh, quoted in the has some really good recommendations. $112. Just 26 percent of tax- July 24 Brian Howey statewide newspaper Some are obvious and some are pretty payers experienced increas- column, called for a reorganization of bold,” Simpson said. es. In Adams County, 66 government on the county level and elimi- Simpson, who served as Monroe percent of bills for owner- nating townships, saying, “We should be County auditor, noted that, “As a former occupied homes rose. The collapsing the unnecessary layers. We county official, sometimes the number of average homeowner experi- have to use this politically charged atmos- autonomously elected officials with no enced a $91 increase. In phere for change.” reporting or oversight is cumbersome at Wells County, about 56 per- McIntosh explained that it hit him best and perhaps not always as effective.” cent of bills fell, by an aver- age of $11. during a recent Allen County Republican “There are possible options that can Lincoln Day dinner. “They introduced 75 be considered,” she said. “There are a lot Continued on page 3 elected officials and another 50 of them of differences between counties. One size Page 3 of 9 Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003 may not fit all. For instance, you can’t Bush’s No Child Left Behind strategy. compare the needs of Ripley County with Simpson responds to the idea of Lake County.” caps by saying, “We already have caps As for Andrew’s call for a constitu- and so if people think that putting some tional convention, Simpson said, “I hear a arbitrary caps solves all property tax prob- lot of talk of a constitutional convention lems they are showing their lack of in order to discuss what needs to be done. knowledge of how the system works.” JEFFERSONVILLE CITY A constitutional convention is called when Simpson added, “We have the ATTORNEY CLEARED: The you have a new constitution to present. A biggest detriment of all; it’s called the bal- Indiana Supreme Court lot of work has to be done prior to that. lot box. If people do not like the local Disciplinary Commission You don’t just run a con-con. You have a officials, what they are doing or how they has cleared Jeffersonville City Attorney Anne Marie lot of hearings and input first.” are spending money, they can vote a new Galligan of wrongdoing person in. We get a very patriarchal after investigating a com- What about caps? approach sometimes; the state knows plaint by City Councilman One quick reaction to the develop- everything and is all wise. I have great Ron Ellis about Galligan's ing property tax story is reining in local faith in local government officials and involvement in a lawsuit government spending.