Townships

Township Trustee

Is the "chief administration office" of the township and must reside in that township. Residents of the township elect the trustee for a term of four years. The trustee's salary is established by the Township Board but may not be less than the amount paid in 1980, before the repeal of the legal minimums.

The trustee prepares the annual township budget for submission to the Township Board and has general control over all belonging to the township.

The trustees are in charge of the townships:

1. Conducting Township Business and maintaining accurate records
2. To receive and disperse all monies belonging to the townships
3. Poor relief
4. Work required maintaining the township properties
5. To care for abandoned cemeteries
6. Fire protection

Township Board

Citizens of each township elect three residents who are qualified voters for a four-year term to the Township Board.

The Township Board has responsibilities in the township similar to those exercised by the County Council. Its functions are:

1. Adopting the annual budget
2. Fixing the tax rate for various funds
3. Imposing the tax levies, subject to review by the County Council and Indiana's Department of Local Finance
4. Approving township contracts
5. Serving as the township board of finance to select depositories for township funds
6. Fixing the salaries of elected and appointed officials and employees of the township