Campbell legislation to promote collaboration in township government passes House of Representatives

INDIANAPOLIS – House Bill (HB) 1157: Township budgets, authored by State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette), passed the House today with a vote of 86-0.

HB 1157 requires that township boards and their trustees pass a collaborative township budget each year. If the board and trustee fail to agree upon a budget, the township would work without a budget rather than default to the previous year's budget, as is currently allowed in Indiana statute. The trustee would then have to seek approval from the board for each and every appropriation before a check could be issued.

Campbell offered the legislation to prevent future conflicts between township boards and their trustees, as in Wabash Township in West Lafayette and Fairfield Township in Lafayette. In these instances, both trustees were able to neglect their duties and abuse their leadership positions due to lack of oversight from their boards.

“The situation in Wabash Township did a lot of damage to the community and the reputation of township governments everywhere,” Campbell said. “I felt it was my responsibility as a lawmaker to ensure this doesn't happen again or to any other Hoosier townships.

“We know the process to remove a problematic township trustee works, so it makes more sense to focus on preventing the issue from reaching that point. By requiring the board and trustee to collaborate on a budget, township governments will become more transparent and will have more accountability. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation to the Governor's desk. “

HB 1157 will now move to the Senate for consideration.