14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Local governments could face lay-offs

Local governments could face lay-offs

Reporter: Drew Speier
New Media Producer: Amanda Lents

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels says Indiana has an antiquated local government system with too many offices and too many layers of bureaucracy.

So the governor has announced a blue ribbon commission to study ways to reform the system statewide. That commission will be led by Daniels' predecessor, former democratic Governor Joe Kernan and State Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard.

A bipartisan effort to reorganize local government in Indiana. Kernan and Shepard will begin their work in early August.

Not soon enough for Governor Daniels, "The need for action for relief is immediate."

Here's what Daniels wants Kernan and Shepard to decide:

• What local government offices might be eliminated to achieve efficiencies and cost savings?
• What local units of government, including schools and libraries, might be successfully consolidated to reduce overhead and administrative expenses?
• What services or functions of local government might be reduced, eliminated or provided in new ways to achieve savings?
• Whether a constitutional convention is necessary or desirable as a means to achieve significant reforms in the structure and organization of Indiana state government?

Gov. Daniels says, "This is an essential but only a partial first step toward the relief which is necessary."

The blue ribbon commission on local government reform is expected to issue recommendations to Gov. Daniels at the end of the year.