Indiana

How To Launder Taxpayer Money Without Even Trying

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

If you’ve ever wondered how township government  stays in business at the General Assembly, here’s how…

1. Join the Indiana Township Association.
2. Payment of your ITA annual dues or your special assessments should all be made from “Other Services, & Charges, Dues and Subscriptions.”*
3. A Trustee may transfer appropriations, without board action, from any line item under “Other Services & Charges.”    The Trustee must notify the board of the transfer at the next meeting.*
4. A township board may approve a transfer of appropriations, upon the trustees request, from “Personal Services,” “Supplies”, or “Capital Outlays”, to “Other Services & Charges”.  The Trustee is responsible for for sending a notice of the transfer to the County Auditor.*
5. It is recommended a special assessment be paid from your 2008 budget, if at all possible.  However if appropriations are not available for transfer, you may pay from your 2009 appropriations.*
6. Indiana law gives a provision for townships to use townships funds for membership to the ITA.  The Board of Accounts Compliance Manual, Chapter 5, page four states the following: “MEMBERSHIP IN GOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS - BOARD’S AUTHORITY TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS - REPRESENTATION - Township Boards are hereby authorized to appropriate necessary funds to provide membership of townships in in county, state and national association of a civic, educational or government nature, which have as their purpose the betterment and improvement of township governmental operations. Township boards are also authorized to participate in the activities of  these associations, and the township boards are authorized to to appropriate money to defray the expenses of such representatives in connection with these activities.  IC 36-6-6-12″*

*The above text is taken verbatim from a September 24th letter from ITA President Mary Hart to the ITA’s membership.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on February 13, 2009 (boomark / email).