Sec. 28. (a) A public question under this chapter shall be placed on the ballot in all of the precincts that are located in the reorganizing political subdivisions in substantially the following form:
(Insert a brief description of the structure of the proposed reorganized political subdivision that will succeed the reorganizing political subdivisions.)
"Shall _________ (insert name of political subdivision) and _________ (insert name of political subdivision) reorganize as a single political subdivision?".
(b) The public question must appear on the ballot in the form approved by the county election board. A brief description of the reorganized political subdivision that will succeed the reorganizing political subdivisions, and the public question described in subsection (a), shall be placed on the ballot in the form prescribed by IC 3-10-9-4. The county election board shall submit the language to the department of local government finance for review.
(c) The department of local government finance shall review the language of the public question to evaluate whether the description of the reorganized political subdivision that will succeed the reorganizing political subdivisions is accurate and is not biased against either a vote in favor of the reorganization or a vote against the reorganization. The department of local government finance may:
(1) approve the ballot language as submitted; or
(2) modify the ballot language as necessary to ensure that the description of the reorganized political subdivision that will succeed the reorganizing political subdivisions is accurate and is not biased.
The department of local government finance shall certify its approval or recommendations to the county election board not more than ten (10) days after the language of the public question is submitted to the department for review. If the department of local government finance recommends a modification to the ballot language, the county election board shall, after reviewing the recommendations of the department of local government finance, submit modified ballot language to the department for the department's approval or recommendation of any additional modifications. The public question may not be certified under IC 3-10-9-3 unless the department of local government finance has first certified the department's final approval of the ballot language for the public question to the county recorder.
(d) When the county recorder receives final approval of the ballot language under this section, the county recorder shall immediately certify the public question to the county election board under IC 3-10-9-3 and file a notice of the certification with the county auditor. The county election board shall place the public question on the ballot in accordance with IC 3-10-9 at the next regularly scheduled general or municipal election that will occur in all of the precincts of the reorganizing political subdivisions.
As added by P.L.186-2006, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.202-2013, SEC.17; P.L.216-2015, SEC.42.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 1.5. Government Modernization
Chapter 4. Reorganization by Referendum
36-1.5-4-2. Adjacent Political Subdivisions
36-1.5-4-3. Types of Reorganization
36-1.5-4-4. Powers of Political Subdivisions in an Approved Reorganization
36-1.5-4-5. Effective Date of Reorganization
36-1.5-4-6. Results of Reorganization
36-1.5-4-7. Budgets, Tax Rates, and Tax Levies; Deadline for Certification; Election Districts
36-1.5-4-8. Authority of Department of Local Government Finance to Prescribe Forms
36-1.5-4-9. Initiation of Reorganization
36-1.5-4-10. Initiation of Reorganization by Legislative Body
36-1.5-4-11. Initiation of Reorganization by Voters
36-1.5-4-12. Action by Legislative Body on Proposed Reorganization; Hearing
36-1.5-4-14. Revision of Resolutions
36-1.5-4-18. Preparation of Reorganization Plan; Required Elements
36-1.5-4-19. Consideration of Reorganization Plan by Legislative Bodies
36-1.5-4-20. Actions by Legislative Bodies on Reorganization Plan
36-1.5-4-21. Modifications to Reorganization Plan
36-1.5-4-22. Action by Legislative Bodies on Revised Reorganization Plan
36-1.5-4-23. Certification by Legislative Bodies of Final Action
36-1.5-4-23.5. Failure to Adopt Reorganization Plan; Petition Requesting a Public Question
36-1.5-4-24. Filing of Reorganization Plan
36-1.5-4-25. Recording of Certifications and Reorganization Plan by County Recorder
36-1.5-4-27.5. Certification of Resolution to Rescind Plan of Reorganization
36-1.5-4-29. Application of Ic 3
36-1.5-4-30. Certification by Circuit Court Clerk of Results of Public Question
36-1.5-4-31. Recording of Certification From Circuit Court Clerk
36-1.5-4-32. Approval of Public Question
36-1.5-4-33. Termination of Reorganization if Public Question Not Approved
36-1.5-4-34. Reorganization According to Reorganization Plan if Public Question Approved
36-1.5-4-34.5. Establishment of Equipment Replacement Funds
36-1.5-4-35. Appointment of Town Precinct Boards
36-1.5-4-36. Initial Election of Officials of Reorganized Political Subdivision
36-1.5-4-37. Change of Boundaries
36-1.5-4-38. Powers of Reorganized Political Subdivision
36-1.5-4-39. Exercise of Powers of Reorganizing Political Subdivisions
36-1.5-4-39.5. Reorganization Plan
36-1.5-4-40. Debt; Pension Obligations
36-1.5-4-41. Pension Fund Membership
36-1.5-4-42. Transfer of Functions of Elected Office
36-1.5-4-43. Termination of Reorganization; Restoration of Reorganizing Political Subdivisions
36-1.5-4-44. Reorganized Political Subdivision
36-1.5-4-45. Actions Prohibited While Reorganization Pending
36-1.5-4-46. Promoting Position on Public Question Prohibited