Chamber supports SB110

Posted on Friday, January 13, 2012

STATEHOUSE (Jan. 4, 2011) — State Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) announced today he will author legislation during the Indiana General Assembly’s 2012 session to give counties the option of restructuring the offices of county commissioner and council.

“I believe these changes would bring greater efficiency and fairer representation to county government, along with the potential for cost savings,” Holdman said. “Indianapolis should not make that decision for the counties; the local citizens should be able to make it for themselves. Not all Hoosier communities are the same, and they don’t all need to follow the same structure for their local governments.”

The bill Holdman plans to introduce would allow counties to establish one county commissioner to replace the existing multiple-member boards. The bill would also let counties create a uniform makeup for their county councils by electing all members to represent equal districts, instead of some members representing districts and others representing the county at-large.

Accompanying these changes – which could only be enacted together – would be the transfer of the county commissioner’s legislative duties to the council, to maintain appropriate checks and balances in local government.

Holdman said his legislation stems from state leaders’ continued focus on streamlining and modernizing local government in Indiana. He said the proposed alternate arrangements for county commissioners and council members reflect the recommendations of many current county officials.

“My experience in town and county government leads me to favor the one-commissioner concept,” said Grant County Commissioner Mike Burton. “It makes the officeholder more accountable to the public. I also support the idea that counties get to decide whether to retain the current system or change to one commissioner.”

"I've never been a fan of the state telling counties how they should be run," said Kevin Woodward, president of the Wells County Commissioners.  "I believe the voters should make that decision."

Holdman’s bill is based on time-tested systems that have worked at other levels of government.

“This idea is the basis for our nation’s presidency, states’ governorships, the mayors of hundreds of cities and countless company CEO positions.”

Holdman added that his proposed option for restructuring county councils would create more equitable representation for all residents of a county.

“Electing all county council members by districts would level the playing field so each member’s vote represents a similar number of citizens – just like in the U.S. House of Representatives or here in the General Assembly,” Holdman said. “When some council members represent an entire county and others represent only part of that county, it can leave rural residents at an electoral disadvantage and create the appearance that certain members’ opinions carry more weight than others.”

Holdman said his bill would give counties three avenues by which they could change their government’s structure: a 3-0 vote by the county commissioners, a 2-1 vote by the commissioners triggering a voter referendum, or a voter referendum started by petition.

“This bill represents a great opportunity for Indiana,” Holdman said. “Hoosier voters would have more say in what their local government looks like.”

Posted in Advocacy