Township trustee briefs Schererville council on Senate Bill 270 and township point system
March 12, 2026 | Schererville Town, Lake County, Indiana
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Saint John Township Trustee Kathy LaRue told the Schererville Town Council on March 11 that Senate Bill 270, signed by the governor on March 5, 2026, establishes a points-based system to identify and require mergers of inefficient townships.
LaRue said the law assigns up to 10 points based on items such as failure to provide township assistance, failure to file required financial reports, and lack of budget activity. "If they have 4 points or more, they will be forced to merge," LaRue said, and she added that a little more than 300 townships statewide could be vulnerable under the new rules.
Why it matters: the law changes how the state evaluates township performance and could eliminate township governments judged noncompliant; LaRue said the measure targets townships that fail to meet state Board of Accounts and Department of Local Government Finance requirements.
LaRue reviewed local metrics to show Saint John Township s compliance. She said the township provided assistance to 361 recipients in 2023 and that its 2025 budget was $1,905,388. "We do not qualify for a merger," she told council members, arguing the township runs efficiently and coordinates services with towns and other agencies.
LaRue contrasted SB 270 with House Bill 1315, which she described as a broader consolidation proposal that died in the Senate. She said she and other township association members testified against the elimination-oriented bill earlier in the session.
Council members asked for clarification on how the point totals are calculated and how the law would treat townships that contract services or partner with municipalities. LaRue pointed the council to the bill text and a point table she distributed and offered to answer further questions.
What happens next: LaRue said SB 270 is now law; she encouraged local officials to review the statutory criteria and continue coordinating with township staff should state evaluations affect local service delivery.
LaRue said the law assigns up to 10 points based on items such as failure to provide township assistance, failure to file required financial reports, and lack of budget activity. "If they have 4 points or more, they will be forced to merge," LaRue said, and she added that a little more than 300 townships statewide could be vulnerable under the new rules.
Why it matters: the law changes how the state evaluates township performance and could eliminate township governments judged noncompliant; LaRue said the measure targets townships that fail to meet state Board of Accounts and Department of Local Government Finance requirements.
LaRue reviewed local metrics to show Saint John Township s compliance. She said the township provided assistance to 361 recipients in 2023 and that its 2025 budget was $1,905,388. "We do not qualify for a merger," she told council members, arguing the township runs efficiently and coordinates services with towns and other agencies.
LaRue contrasted SB 270 with House Bill 1315, which she described as a broader consolidation proposal that died in the Senate. She said she and other township association members testified against the elimination-oriented bill earlier in the session.
Council members asked for clarification on how the point totals are calculated and how the law would treat townships that contract services or partner with municipalities. LaRue pointed the council to the bill text and a point table she distributed and offered to answer further questions.
What happens next: LaRue said SB 270 is now law; she encouraged local officials to review the statutory criteria and continue coordinating with township staff should state evaluations affect local service delivery.
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