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By  far the largest single group of elected officials in Indiana, Township  Trustees govern 1,008 townships covering every part of the state. Like  most elected officials, the Township Trustee serves a four year term.  Many Township Trustees work at other jobs in addition to serving their  constituents.

Assisting the Township Trustee in managing this very localized form  of government is a three member Township Board. Among its duties are the  adoption of the annual budget, serving as a board of finance, and  approving township contracts.

Indiana law requires that the Township Trustees provide essential  services to the residents and businesses of the Township. Because of its  “grassroots” structure, the Township Trustee system is designed  specifically to quickly meet the needs of the individual in an  emergency.

Township Trustees are, by Indiana law, charged with the  responsibility of providing fire protection and ambulance service for  the areas of the township not incorporated into a city or town. The  protection can be provided by contracting with various fire departments,  operating a Township Fire Department, or a combination of both.  (Indiana Code 36-8)

Overseeing the poor and distributing poor relief is a primary duty in  many townships. The trustee is charged to care for the poor by the most  economical means available and at the same time is charged to be sure  that the necessary needs of an individual or family are met. The  applicant must show that they are unable to provide those needs through  personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means.

Many trustees creatively cooperate with other agencies and churches  in their areas, keeping costs controlled and delivering services needed.  The advantage the Trustee’s systems has over other forms of welfare is  the freedom to discern whether or not an individual has and is willing  to put forth that personal effort to help themselves. (Indiana Code  Title 12)

Burial assistance is available from the Township Trustee when no  other means of payment are available. The trustee, according to Indiana  Code Title 12, is to oversee the burial of the indigent.

Each August, the trustee prepares and submits a budget for the  incoming year to the three-person township board for approval. As the  Chief Financial Officer of the township, the trustee pays and records  all claims for the township expenses and salaries and is responsible to  keep accurate records and follow all the financial guidelines set out in  Indiana Code.

In January of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual  report which shows all receipts, expenditures, investments and debts.  The approved report is then published in local papers for public  inspection.

According to Indiana Code 23-14 the trustee is to provide and  maintain cemeteries located in the township. This includes those  cemeteries which have been abandoned.

Indiana Code 15-3-4 charges the trustee with destroying detrimental  weeds within their township. Guidelines for notification to the property  owner are set within the law.

When a dispute arises between two land owners regarding placement and  maintenance of line fences, the trustee is to make determination  according to Indiana law 32-10-9.

There are other areas of responsibility for trustees that are not widespread. Those include:

• Parks and Recreation
• Zoning and Planning
• Small Claims Court
• Emergency Medical Service
• Schools
• Community Centers
• Shelters
• Libraries