Kosciusko County Council members Robert Sanders and James Moyer recently joined about 300 officials from around the state at the Association of Indiana Counties’ 2015 County Legislative Conference. County officials met with their legislators to express their concerns about local government issues at the two-day event sponsored by the AIC in Indianapolis Feb. 3 and 4. The AIC staff briefed county officials about legislation that would have an impact on local road funding, both at the state and local level, according to information from the county auditor’s office. Members were briefed on bills that would impact tax sales and abandoned property, assessed values on agricultural land, elections, public records, drainage issues, funding of local criminal incarceration, annexation, court system technology, local zoning control, 911 funding and the state budget. Members also received an update on how the Healthy Indiana Plan may affect counties. Workshop topics addressed income tax simplification and session agendas for the state offices of attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer. County officials also heard from Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush and John Ketzenberger of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. During the event, county officials also visited the statehouse to speak with their state senators and state representatives. Sanders is quoted saying, “This was a very short meeting. I was able to hear about issues that will affect Kosciusko County, and I had the opportunity to meet with State elected officials to hear firsthand about the way they think on issues.” Moyer said in the release, “These programs are so important to be able to share ideas with others that face the same problems.” The AIC is a nonprofit organization for established in 1957 whose functions include lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of counties; serving as liaison among counties, state and federal agencies; and providing technical assistance, training and communications to county officials and employees. For more information, visit www.IndianaCounties.org
