Some Indiana lawmakers are looking to consolidate township government in the state after multiple instances of corruption recently.
The “Evansville Courier & Press” reports that Indiana House Republicans announced a plan early this month to merge about 300 of Indiana’s 1,005 townships over the next five years. The legislators aim to introduce the effort this year. The plan would eliminate almost 12-hundred elected positions.
The report says in Grant County, Green, Liberty and Richland Townships would be consolidated into neighboring townships.
Reformers have long sought to curb township government because it gives elected officials unusual discretion to spend taxpayer money.
An investigation by the Evansville newspaper last year found that township trustees have limited oversight and are given enough autonomy to abuse the privilege.
