HB 1267 - Consolidation of Township Governments

• All townships in each county (except Marion County) consolidate into a single township effective January 1, 2019, with separate township offices and boards eliminated and powers transferred to the consolidated township.

• A three-member township board elected at large and a township trustee elected countywide will govern each consolidated township, with a transition board of all current township trustees overseeing the consolidation process.

• County fiscal bodies gain approval authority over township budgets, property tax levies, and rates for 2019 and beyond, with power to reduce but not increase proposed amounts.

• Transition boards must adopt uniform township assistance standards and fire protection/emergency services plans by specified deadlines, or state agencies will adopt them; all township assets, debts, personnel, and contracts transfer to consolidated townships.

• Existing township assessors continue serving within their former township geographic boundaries; pension obligations and indebtedness remain payable only within the areas that originally incurred them.