The Indiana Publisher

February 2017

Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher

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Page 4 February 9, 2017 T his is the season for publi- cation of annual financial reports by local government units (schools report in the Fall). Newspapers have published these reports as public notice advertisments for decades (see publication schedule below). My challenge to reporters is to take a look at these reports as the starting point for a story or stories. What might one discover? Compare the 2016 budgets posted on the state Department of Government Finance website to the actual amounts. The comparison may show a noteworthy variance between the former and the latter. The finan- cial records of government units are available upon request under an Access to Public Records Act request. A difference doesn't necessarily mean anyone did anything wrong. Pothole repairs may have been higher than normal due to the number of extreme temperature swings during the winter and spring. Healthcare pre- miums for public employees may have jumped more than anticipated. The story may be good. Tax income and unit spending may have been right on budget and kudos are deserved. Maybe, some efficiencies were implemented that resulted in budget savings. Readers might be interested to see what the big ticket budget items are. What percentage of the budget goes to public safety? Within the salary costs, what percentage goes toward health- care or pension obligations? What entity received more money from the government unit in 2016? What was the service provided by the number- one recipient of budgeted dollars? Reporters could do comparison sto- ries between government units within the county. Examine spending for fire protection between rural townships. Is there any difference between the costs for townships that run the fire departments compared to townships that contract with volunteer fire asso- ciations? Compare spending of multiple small towns within a county. Are differences from one town to another an indica- tion that some departments are more efficient than others? Does it reflect a greater priority in the provision of that service in one town compared to another? As you talk about 2016 spending or the 2017 budget, local officials may offer their opinions on the budgetary challenges they face under property tax reforms. You could get an earful from a school superintendent regarding property taxes the school district isn't getting because a TIF district was cre- ated. Journalists pride themselves as the watchdogs of democracy. What could be more worthy a project for newspa- pers than to focus on the spending of government units in your county or readership area. If any of you accept the challenge or were already planning of these types of stories, let me know. I'd like to read the stories that started with a public notice advertisement. Steve Key is executive director and general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association. Key Points Steve Key Generate stories from financial reports LIKE THE HOOSIER STATE PRESS ASSOCIATION ON FACEBOOK FOR INDUSTRY NEWS, DEADLINES AND UPDATES. News in brief Detecting a quaint and faint aroma of eucalyptus in his home water glass, and later at the office, earned Fort Wayne Journal Gazette columnist, Frank Gray, the 2017 Clarity in Reporting Award from The Indiana Section of the American Water Works Association. Gray detailed in his May 15, 2016 column, "a couple of days later at work I got a plastic cup of water. There was the same smell, a slightly "perfumy" taste. It didn't bother me. The water was free, and I was willing to put up with the odd taste in order to avoid paying $1.25 for bottled water." Gray then did what good reporters do, and questioned the Ft. Wayne water utility. He was told how natural conditions such as river turbidity and even snow run-off can affect water taste but not its health and safety. Gray's message to his readers: "Water's taste is no reason to raise a fuss." The Clarity in Reporting Award is presented annually to honor outstanding news coverage of water treatment and environmental issues that contribute significantly to public understanding. The award was presented to Gray during the Indiana Section's 109 th Annual Conference. - Fort Wayne Journal Gazette Kentucky Publishing, Inc. and Indiana Newspaper Group are proud to have Rachel Maxwell as the new Advertising Account Executive for the Huntingburg Press and Jasper News Journal. The Jasper News Journal, a new publication, will serve Dubois County and the greater Jasper area. Maxwell lives in Paducah, KY and achieved a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Murray State University in Murray, KY. She will commute to the Huntingburg Press office often to get to know her business contacts and be involved in the community. - Huntingburg Press The Sullivan Daily Times recently hired two new part- time reporters, Jessica Pitts and Victoria Shinkle. Pitts, recently com- pleted her jour- nalism degree at St. Mary-of-the- Woods College. Shinkle, is a first-year journalism student at Vincennes University, whose grandfa- ther, Roscoe Cunningham, is the publisher of The Sumner (Illinois) Press. - Sullivan Daily Times 2017 Annual Reports Schedule The schedule for publication of local government unit's annual reports is as follows: COUNTY Following the second regular meeting of the county commissioners, the report should be posted and published (IC 36-2-2-19). According to the state Board of Accounts, news- papers should expect those reports in February. The annual financial report output that will meet the requirement of the receipts and disbursement portion for IC 36-2-2-19 is called Cash & Investments Combined, according to the state Board of Accounts. Counties often use the 100R report for the total compen- sation paid to each of the county officers, deputies and employees. TOWNSHIPS Within four weeks after the third Tuesday following the first Monday in February (deadline - Tuesday, March 21), the township trustee is to publish an abstract of receipts and disbursements (IC 36-6-4-13). To avoid squabbles over publication costs, township trustees and newspaper should note that budget lines with $0 amounts do not have to be included in the published report. This will serve to condense the size of the publication. CITIES and TOWNS Within 60 days after the end of the calendar year (deadline – Sunday, March 1), the fiscal officer is to publish an annual report of receipts and disbursements (IC 5-3-1-3). SCHOOL CORPORATIONS No earlier than Aug. 1 nor later than Aug. 15, the secretary of each school corporation must publish an annual financial report (IC 5-3-1-3). OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (as defined under IC 36-1-2-13) For those political subdivisions with an annual budget of at least $300,000 and the power to levy taxes, and do not have a requirement to publish an annual report under another statute, an annual report of receipts and disbursements is required to be pub- lished not later than 60 days after year end (IC 5-3-1-3.5). Columnist wins water award New reporters join the Times New publication and account rep Pitts (left), Shinkle (right). Photo: Harold Bosstick Maxwell information collected by state and local government units, as well as information pro- vided by private entities. This information can be used to analyze how govern- ment works to find efficien- cies or identify possible solutions to policy questions. It can also be used by entrepre- neurs to create new services for the public or government units. HSPA is following the leg- islative attempt to set param- eters on what may be included on the MPH, and what may be prohibited from elec- tronic sharing. For example, the budget bill, H.B. 1001, authored by Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, contains a section on what should not be included. HSPA questions some of the data fields that would not be included. H.B. 1470, authored by Rep. David Ober, R-Albion, estab- lishes the management and performance hub. The language raised a question as to the deci- sion-making process for what would or would not be posted on the Internet. Key had a meeting with Rep. Ober, who said an amendment to the bill was being crafted. Key believes HSPA and Ober have the same interest in gov- ernment transparency and will work with Ober on improve- ments to the legislation. H.B. 1470 was passed out of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee Tuesday with an 8-0 vote. HSPA raised concerns with proposed bulk copying fees that could be charged by county recorders in the original version of S.B. 505, authored by Sen. Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville. HSPA's Key talked to Sen. Bray and testi- fied at the bill's Senate Local Government Committee hear- ing. The original language would allow recorders to include "overhead costs" in its compu- tation of bulk copying fee costs. HSPA testified that this would be contrary to legislative policy created in 1999. The bill was held so that Sen. Bray could craft an amend- ment. HSPA is hopeful that the amendment will address its concerns. Records Continued from Page 1

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