Township Assessor Job Description

Indiana Code 36-6-5-1 Sec 1 (a) A township assessor shall be elected under IC 3-10-2-13 by the voters of each township having:

(1)   a population of more than eight thousand (8,000); or

(2)  an elected township assessor or the authority to elect a township assessor before   January 1, 1979

(b) A township assessor shall be elected under IC 3-10-2-14 in each township having a population of more than five thousand (5,000) but not more than eight thousand (8,000), if the legislative body of the township

            (1) by resolution, declares that the office of the township assessor is necessary; and

           (2) the resolution is filed with the county election board not later than the first date that a    declaration of candidacy may be filed under IC 3-8-2.

(c) The township assessor must reside within the township as provided in Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.  The assessor forfeits office if the assessor ceases to be a resident of the township.

(d) The term of office of a township assessor is four (4) years, beginning January 1 after election and continuing until a successor is elected and qualified.  However, the term of office of a township assessor elected at a general election in which no other township officer is elected ends on December 31 after the next election in which any other township officer is elected.  As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, Sec5.  Amended by Acts 1982, P.L. Sec 59; P.L. 14-1983, Sec 5; P.L. 5-1986, Sec 58; P.L. 3-1987, Sec 564; P.L. 3-1997, Sec 470.

IC 36-6-5-2 Sec 2 (a) This section applies to townships that do not have an elected or appointed and qualified township assessor.

(b) The township executive shall perform all the duties and has all the rights and powers of assessor.  If a township qualifies under IC 36-6-5-1 to elect a township assessor, the executive shall continue to serve as assessor until an assessor is appointed or elected and qualified

(c) The bond filed by the executive in his capacity as executive also covers his duties as assessor.

IC 36-6-5-3 Sec 3  The assessor shall perform the duties prescribed by statue, including:

1.      Assessment duties prescribed by IC 6-1.1 and

2.      administration of the dog tax and dog fund as prescribed by IC 15-5-9.

IC 36-6-8-5 Sec 5 (a) When performing the real property reassessment duties described by IC 6-1.1-4, an elected township assessor may receive per diem compensation, in addition to salary, at a rate fixed by the county fiscal body, for each day that he is engaged in reassessment.

(b) Subsection (a) applies regardless of whether professional assessing services are provided to a township under contract.

IC 36-6-8-6 Sec 6 (a) A township assessor who becomes a certified Level II Indiana Assessor/Appraiser is entitled to a salary increase of one thousand dollars ($1,000) after his/her certification under IC 6-1.1-35.5.

(b) A certified Level II Indiana Assessor/Appraiser who replaces a township assessor who is not so certified is entitled to a salary of one thousand dollars ($1,000) more than his/her predecessor’s salary.

(c). A salary increase under this section comprises a part of the township assessor’s base salary for as long as he serves in that position.

IC 36-6-8-9 Sec. 9 If necessary in the performance of their duties:

(1)   Township assessors; or

(2)   Deputies and employees engaged in field work and authorized by the township assessor; may use their own conveyances and are entitled to receive a mileage allowance equal to the sum per mile paid to state officers and employees.  Only one (1) mileage may be allowed for each assessing team.

IC 36-6-8-10 Sec 10 (a) The county fiscal body shall, in the manner prescribed by IC 36-2-5 or IC  36-2-6, fix and appropriate money to pay the per diem established under section 5 of this chapter and the salaries and per diems of the county’s township assessors and any deputies or other employees that assist the elected township assessor.

(b) Each township assessor shall file the budget estimate required by IC 36-2-5-5 or IC 36-3-6-4.  The budget estimate filed under this subsection must include all estimated expenses of the office, including costs incurred through litigation for the office.

(c) If the township executive is performing the duties of assessor, the county fiscal body shall appropriate money for the purposes of subsection (a) and other expenses of acting as assessor, including all costs incurred through litigation for the office.  However, it may not provide a salary that is below the amount fixed for that salary for the year 1984.

IC 36-6-8-11 Sec 11 (a) Deputies and other employees of a township assessor must file their claims for compensation, which must be verified by the township assessor.  Claims for employment that is not on an annual basis must show the actual number of days employed.  Deputies and other employees of a township assessor shall be paid monthly out of the county treasury, on the warrant of the county auditor.

(b) Employees of the township assessor are entitled to no compensation other that that provided by this chapter.

Township Trustee Job Description

IC 36-6-4-2 Sec 2 (a) A township trustee shall be elected under IC 3-10-2-13 by the votes of each township.  The trustee is the township executive.

(b) The township trustee must reside within the township as provided in Article 6, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana.  The trustee forfeits office if the trustee ceases to be a resident of the township.

(c ) The term of office of a township trustee is four (4) years, beginning January after election and continuing until a successor is elected and qualified.

IC 36-6-4-3 Sec 3 The executive shall do the following:

1.      Keep a written record of official proceedings;

2.      Manage all township property interests

3.      Keep township records open for public inspection

4.      Attend all meetings of the township legislative body

5.      Receive and pay out township funds

6.      Examine and settle all accounts and demands chargeable against the township

7.      Administer poor relief under IC 12-20 and IC 12-30-4

8.      Perform the duties of fence viewer under IC 32-10

9.      Act as township assessor when required by IC 36-6-5

10.   Provide and maintain cemeteries under IC 23-14

11.   Provide fire protection under IC 36-8

12.   File an annual personnel report under IC 5-11-13

13.   Provide and maintain township parks and community centers under IC 36-10

14.   Destroy detrimental plants, noxious weeds, and rank vegetation under IC 15-3-4

15.   Provide insulin to the poor under IC 12-20-16

16.   Perform other duties prescribed by statute.

IC 36-6-4-4 Sec 4. The executive may do the following

1.      Administer oaths when necessary in the discharge of official duties

2.      Appoint an attorney to represent the township in any proceeding in which the township is interested

3.      Enter into certain oil and gas leases of township property under IC 36-9

4.      Personally use a township vehicle for the performance of official duties, but only if the use is authorized by the township legislative body.

5.      Exercise other powers granted by statue

 IC 36-6-4-5 Sec 5. The executive shall maintain

1.      a general account showing the total of all township receipts and expenditures; and

2.      the financial and appropriation record of the township, which must include an itemized and accurate account of the township’s financial affairs.

IC 36-6-4-6 Financial and appropriation record; requisites

IC 36-6-4-7 Purchases; written order; warrant; violation; liability

IC 36-6-4-8 Use of funds appropriated for community services; contracts for ambulance services; fees

IC 36-6-4-10 Verified statement of indebtedness; posting

IC 36-6-4-11Annual meeting; report of receipts and expenditures of preceding calendar year; failure to file, penalty

IC 36-6-4-13 Abstract of receipts and expenditures; publications; failure to comply offense

IC 36-6-4-14 Delivery of funds, property and annual report’ submission to inquiries at annual meeting

IC 36-6-4-15 Resignation or death; issuance of call for special meeting by new executive; annual report

IC 36-6-4-16 Incapacity; petition; hearing; acting executive; salaries; restoration of capacity; resumption of duties

IC 36-6-4-17 Failure to perform duty; liability; compensation

IC 36-6-4-18 Designation of alternate to perform executive’s duties and functions

IC 36-6-4-19 Use of funds for drug awareness programs