(La Porte County, IN) - A proposed merger between local township governments will not happen.

 

The New Durham Township Board last night voted 2 to 1 against merging with Center and Springfield townships.

 

Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski said the Center Township and Springfield Township boards voted in favor of the merger but approval from all three governing bodies was required for adoption.

 

“It didn’t happen, so, there’s no merger,” she said.

 

Pierzakowski said Center and Springfield townships could still consider merging together but there isn’t enough time in the procedure that must be followed to take action this year.

 

The earliest a merger could happen is 2027 because township mergers cannot be decided in an election year and there are elections in La Porte County in 2026.

 

Pierzakowski supported the proposed merger to save money to help make up for lost revenue local governments will begin seeing next year from statewide property tax reductions adopted by the Indiana legislature six months ago.

 

She also felt it was best to merge now before the state legislature looking to cut government costs possibility requires townships statewide to merge and possibility in a manner unfavorable to local residents.

 

“I feel it was good for the community,” she said.