From the Northwest Indiana Times:
Griffith has won back the chance to leave Calumet Township, but only if the township fails to reduce spending on its own next year and a subsequent state takeover also fails.
On Tuesday, the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee changed House Bill 1585 by restoring Griffith's ability to hold a referendum on whether to leave Calumet Township and join another.
A different Senate panel this month removed that provision from the House-approved legislation.
However, before Griffith could hold the referendum, Calumet Township officials would have one year to bring its township assistance property tax rate, generally used to support poor relief, below 12 times the state average.
Calumet Township's current township assistance property tax rate is 20.47 times the state average. The next-highest township is 7.94 times the state average.
If Calumet Township does not reduce its spending, the revised measure allows the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board to automatically designate the township as “distressed” and appoint an emergency manager to essentially take over the township with broad powers to reduce spending.
If the emergency manager is not successful by 2015, then Griffith could hold a referendum on leaving the township.
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See the full article here:
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/senate-panel-restores-chance-for-griffith-to-leave-calumet-twp/article_61a37efa-fa70-51e7-8054-14d58dfd1119.html
