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Evansville and Vanderburgh County 2010-2011 Reorganization

In 2009, LWVSWIN exercised a provision of state law to call for preparation of a plan that would merge Evansville and Vanderburgh County governments into a single, unified government. 

As a result, a Study Committee was appointed by the City and the County to study the options, feasibility, and efficiencies of merging city and county government. 

The following is the first in a series of FAQs about the Study Committee’s work.   It deals with the creation and goals of the Study Committee. 
More information and FAQs will be published as their work progresses, including the Committee’s preliminary plan, final plan, and the actions of city and county government leading up to the referendum when residents will have an opportunity to vote on the plan. 
See this website for more FAQs and periodic updates.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.  Who created the process that allows governmental entities to reorganize and consolidate?
A.  The State Legislature of Indiana in 2006.  The Reorganization Statute is Indiana Code 36-1.5-4.  You can find a link on the www. lwvswin.org website.

Q.  What are the goals of the 2010-2011 Reorganization Study? 
A.  (1) To draft a plan for consolidating Evansville City and Vanderburgh County governments into a single countywide government; (2) To create new efficiencies and to expand the efficiencies already achieved in combined government services, such as Central Dispatch/911; (3) To make local government more easily accessible and accountable to its citizens; and (4) To create an integrated leadership structure that can have a unified vision for advancing our community

Q.  Who appointed the Reorganization Study Committee?
A.  The 12-member local government reorganization study committee was appointed by the County Commissioners, County Council, Mayor, and City Council – each appointed 3 of the study committee members.

Q.  What is the timeline for the Study Committee?
A.  A preliminary plan will be presented in early September 2010.  Public hearings and information sessions on the plan will take place September-November 2010.  A revised and final plan will be presented to City Council and County Commissioners by January 11, 2011.  The earliest any plan will be voted on is in 2012, unless the Reorganization Statute is amended to allow 2011.

Q.  Is reorganization/consolidation the same as annexation?
A.  No. Annexation can be imposed by the city without consent by voters; and, residents of annexed areas must eventually receive and pay for city services regardless of whether they want those services.  Consolidation cannot occur without approval by a referendum vote.   The 2010-2011 Plan will have “service districts” according to the government services provided, and residents would pay only for the services they receive in their district.  Farmers would not pay taxes for street lights, for example.  

Q.  Is township government affected by this process?
A.  No.  Township government is not part of the study

Q.  Are the decisions of the Reorganization Study Committee final?
A.  No.  The Committee will present a plan to the County Commissioners and City Council.  The Commissioners and City Council then may approve, modify, or reject the Committee’s plan or ask the Committee to supply requested modifications.  This all has to occur within one year of them receiving the Plan.  The County Council and the Mayor may have input on the plan, but neither will be able to vote on the plan before it goes to a referendum ballot.

Q.  If the County Commissioners and/or the City Council rejects the Plan in total, what happens?
A.  If 10% of the voters sign a petition, the Plan will go on the ballot despite the rejection by the City Council and/or County Commissioners.

Q.  Is the Study Committee required to address the county sheriff and city police departments and the city and township fire departments? 
A.  No.  The state law gives the committee broad leeway in deciding whether local government departments should be merged or left as is.  The committee also could stipulate that the newly elected merged city-county council would have to decidee what to do with various departments by a given date after the consolidation.
   
Q.  Will County residents who live outside the City of Evansville be responsible for paying the debts of the City, or vice versa?
A.  No.   The Reorganization Statute would prevent this.   Debt is the responsibility of the citizens who voted on it; and it stays with that group post-reorganization.

Q.  Will the current elected officeholders automatically be the officeholders in a new reorganized government?
A.  No.  Elections would be held for the new offices created as a result of the consolidation.

Q.  How can I contact the Reorganization Committee to share my thoughts?
A.  There is a Feedback Tab on the City-County Consolidation section of evansvillegov.org.  You may also attend any Committee or Subcommittee meeting.  They are listed in the City-County Consolidation section.

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE TIMELINE JULY 2010-JANUARY 2011

July:    No Full Committee Meetings
1.   Subcommittees Continue to work
2.   Develop Communication/Education Plan (TBD - detailed separately)
3.   Status Update to City Council and County Commissioners
   
August 5: Committee Meeting:  Receive and Discuss Subcommittee Draft Reports from:
1.   Parks and Recreation
2.   Infrastructure
3.   Governance
      Vote to adopt if the Committee is ready

August 10: Public Hearing on Public Safety Issues
 
August 19:  Public Hearing on Planning, Zoning and Land Use Issues; and Tax/Finance

August  26: Committee Meeting:  Receive and Discuss Subcommittee Draft Reports from:
1.   Public Safety
2.   Planning, Zoning and Land Use
3.   Tax and Finance
      Vote to adopt if the Committee is ready

Week of August 30:  Draft Plan of Reorganization distributed to Committee for Review

September 9:  Committee Meeting:  finalize and approve Draft Plan

September 23:  Joint Meeting of City Council and County Commissioners to Present Draft Plan

October and November:  Educate the Public about the Draft Plan by Committee

November 2:  Election Day

November 16:  Committee conducts 1 of 2 Public Hearings about Plan

November 30:  Committee conducts 2 of 2 Public Hearings about Plan

December 14:  Committee meets to discuss/vote on any needed revisions to the Draft Plan
Plan is revised as necessary

January 11, 2011: Submit Final Plan of Reorganization to City Council and County Commissioners

Contact us:

Pam Locker, President
P.O. Box 4456, Evansville, IN 47724