Adopted February 1979, Amended November 1998

To promote more efficient, productive, and accountable government at both the state and local levels, the League of Women Voters of Indiana supports a system of state-local relations which will give to local units of government sufficient freedom in the handling of their own affairs to allow them to deal effectively with local problems.

While the state has a definite and positive role to play in local government, its activities should be limited to establishing broad guidelines within which local governments may operate. Local units of government should have a great deal of autonomy in dealing with local concerns.

The League of Women Voters, believing that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens, supports the adoption of procedures to provide for citizen review of local government structure, functions, and financing. [See also Local Government Finance.]

Specifically, the League of Women Voters recommends that:

• Cities, towns, and counties in Indiana be allowed to choose their own form of government within broad,general guidelines established by the state legislature. A variety of options, including but not limited to commission, executive-council, and council-manager forms, should be available.

• Cities, towns, and counties in Indiana be allowed to establish administrative structures and procedures which
  will best serve their citizens. The state should provide guidelines and minimum standards.

• Cities, towns, and counties in Indiana be allowed flexibility to raise revenue to finance government services.

The state should fund state-mandated programs. To promote greater efficiency, the state should provide general guidelines in the area of intergovernmental relations at the local level and should actively encourage intergovernmental cooperation.