The current formula for determining township funding will remain intact, at least for another year.
State Rep. Hal Slager, R-15th, withdrew for consideration House Bill 1065 during Thursday’s local government committee meeting. The bill authored by Slager and co-authored by Rep. Bill Fine of Munster would’ve changed the formula established by the Department of Local Government Finance calculating the rate a township reaches its spending threshold established in 2013.
Slager said the bill was designed to do “nothing more than clarify the township rate calculation,” but that he didn’t have the 2015 figures he needed. He did say that Calumet Township, the bill’s impetus, has seen its spending rise 21 percent, to $10.2 million, and that rather than reduce its employee rolls, it moved employees around to different funds for payment.
“There have been great reductions, but there’s been an administration payroll increase,” Slager said. “We have reason to keep holding our intentions, but we’re not ready to re-litigate. There’s a better time and place.”
Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa said the threshold should’ve been calculated by a true mathematical mean average, but the DLGF set the calculation as a weighted average, which allowed Calumet Township to get under the threshold.
“The 2016 budget remains under the threshold, but the deadline for turning in 2015 spending is the end of February, so we’ll see where we’re at then. If (Calumet Township Trustee Kim Robinson) reduced those numbers, we applaud her,” said Ryfa.
Ryfa reiterated that either way, Griffith residents are now paying $1 million to the township, down from $3 million in 2013. That amount is more than what Munster pays, and comparable to what Highland pays, to North Township.
“A 66 percent decrease in taxes is really good,” Ryfa said.
Calumet Township Trustee Kim Robinson, along with Calumet Township Trustee Board Chairman Darren Washington, township accountant Steve Dalton and Indiana Township Association Director Debbie Driskell were in Indianapolis ready to testify at the meeting. Their presentation showed a reduction of total employees to 47 in 2015 – from 75 in 2014 – and $4,040,493 in total disbursements, which was down $383,836 over 2014.
Despite the reductions she and her team were ready to present, she was glad the bill was withdrawn because even though Calumet Township was the bill’s intended target, its passing would’ve had farther-reaching repercussions.
“It would’ve affected other townships who have the money to fight (H.B. 1065), and we would’ve had to latch on to their suit,” Robinson said. “Griffith has a contiguous township (in St. John Township), but Muncie in Center Township and Ft. Wayne in Wayne Township don’t, and they would’ve sued.
“We’re still working toward being compliant and keeping our budget under the threshold, but I’m exuberant.”
The Town of Griffith voted last week to send a resolution to the Calumet Township Board stating it wants to leave the township and requesting the board vote to allow it. The Calumet Township Board has yet to meet and decide whether to take action.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
