By Dan Domsic
With a quick signature by Gov. Mike Pence, Senate Bill 343 will become law, making specific demands of political subdivisions that plan to reorganize.
In short – the political process the Town Of Fishers went through during last year’s reorganized city vs. second-class city vs. town referenda question will be different for political entities looking to do the same in 2014 and beyond.
It passed the House on April 2.
According to www.openstates.org, the bill nixes the need for a reorganization committee to draft a reorganization plan, instead shifting the responsibility of putting together a plan on legislative bodies.
Town Manager Scott Fadness said the town staff doesn’t have an overall opinion of the bill.
He said with Fishers residents deciding to shift to a second-class city, the bill doesn’t pertain to the town.
When asked whether the bill made the political merger process more or less difficult, he said, “I don’t think it’s the process so much. It’s really the conversation with your residents that’s probably the most difficult.”
According to Openstates, the bill also prohibits people or organizations with formal or informal contracts with a subdivision looking to reorganize from spending money “to promote a position on the public question regarding reorganization.”
Current in Fishers will continue to explore the issue.