The Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township may soon take steps to become a single government entity.
The Ellettsville Town Council unanimously approved a proposal to explore a potential reorganization with Richland Township during its meeting Monday night.
Town Manager Mike Farmer said the move would streamline first responder services, protect resources and give residents a strong voice in shaping the community's future. Richland Township currently uses Ellettsville Fire Protection.
Richland Township is one of 11 townships in Monroe County, with Ellettsville making up a substantial part of its population.
Town Council President Scott Oldham said the plan is not an annexation, a process to increase cities and towns jurisdictional authority and claim control over territory of adjacent land, but rather a merger of the two governmental bodies.
If the plan moves forward, a reorganization committee, along with several subcommittees, would look into potential costs, legal processes and the community impact. Any final proposal would go to both the Richland Township Advisory Board and the Ellettsville Town Council for approval before heading to voters in a referendum in November 2026. If approved, the consolidated government could take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Farmer said Senate Enrolled Act 1 — a law that restricts local governments’ ability to raise revenue through property taxes — has added pressure on rural townships and towns to operate more efficiently with fewer resources.
During a council meeting in October, Farmer said the town can’t afford to fill a vacant police officer position, which has been open since May due to SEA 1.
“The proposed reorganization allows Richland Township and Ellettsville to take the lead in shaping their shared future rather than reacting to outside decisions,” he said.
He added that there is a growing discussion at the state level about possibly limiting township governments altogether. During this year's budget session, legislators proposed a bill to dissolve townships, but the bill did not pass.
The town is modeling its process after the 2024 consolidation between the Town of Sheridan and Adams Township.
Councilmember William Ellis said the decision is one of the most significant in Ellettsville’s history and urged residents to get involved. Town officials plan to hold a series of public meetings and work sessions in the coming months to gather feedback.
“And we will be an unstoppable town, whatever the town name is, because that can be up for grabs too,” Ellis said.
Madelyn Hanes covers issues in southern Indiana. Her work is supported by a rural reporting grant from the Hearst Foundation.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct information about Richland Township’s population.
