Townships are a product of Indiana’s early history, and Indiana is one of 20 states that currently has some form of township government. A township in the Indiana refers to a small geographic area, ranging in size from 6 to 54 square miles (15.6 km² to 140.4 km²), with 36 square miles (93 km²) being the norm. A civil township is a unit of local government. Township government powers in Indiana have grown to the point that it is difficult to discern the differences between townships, cities and villages.
There are, however, significant differences that are important to the people charged with administering township affairs and deciding township policies. Townships and counties are statutory units of government, having only those powers expressly provided or fairly implied by state law. Cities and most villages are vested with home rule powers, meaning they can do almost anything not prohibited by law.
State laws authorize townships to perform a wide variety of functions and state laws specify details for performing these functions.
Township trustees are elected officials, but many are volunteers, too, who help make their communities better places to live. By far the largest single group of elected officials in Indiana, Township Trustees govern 1,008 townships covering every part of the state. Like most elected officials, the Township Trustee serves a four-year term and many Township Trustees work at other jobs in addition to serving their constituents.
Assisting the Township Trustee in managing this very localized form of government is a three-member Township Board. Among its duties are the adoption of the annual budget, serving as a board of finance, and approving township contracts.
Indiana law requires that the Township Trustees provide essential services to the residents and businesses of the Township. Because of its "grassroots" structure, the Township Trustee system is designed specifically to quickly meet the needs of the individual in an emergency.
The ITA is the only township organization that provides legislative services to the 1008 townships. Our lobbyists meet with law makers on a daily basis while the legislature is in session. The ITA insures that all proposed legislation is studied to assess its impact township government. The ITA is the only association from local government that testifies on proposed bills that impact townships. Members of the state legislature come to the ITA when they have questions about township government.
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