Terre Haute and Vigo County government officials and civic leaders today are announcing the formation of a steering committee that will study local government efficiency.
The effort is in response to a proposal put forward by local business and civic leaders in April.
The effort, dubbed Terre Haute Competes, will be jointly administered by representatives of the private sector, the city and county. The steering committee is chaired by Paul Thrift, CEO of Terre Haute-based Thompson Thrift.
Other members include Mayor Duke Bennett, City Council President Todd Nation, Vigo County Commissioner Brad Anderson, Vigo County Council member Bill Thomas, Indiana State University President Dan Bradley, and Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau Board President Greg Gibson.
Additional members may be added to the steering committee at a later date.
According to a news release, city and county government leaders "have enthusiastically embraced" the idea to engage in a wide-ranging review of current city and county operations.
"The objective is to ensure that citizens are getting the highest level of services at the most competitive price," according to a news release. The initiative is still being finalized.
In addition to the steering committee, there will be multiple study teams that will help conduct in-depth reviews of city and county operations and identify best practices and opportunities for innovation.
The teams will forward their recommendations to the steering committee for its review at public meetings. Recommendations that are approved will be forwarded to the appropriate unit of local government for consideration.
The remaining elements of the initiative will be finalized in the coming weeks and more information regarding Terre Haute Competes will be released at that time.
The following statement was issued by the Terre Haute Competes steering committee:
“We are all optimistic about the future of Terre Haute and Vigo County. That optimism, however, acknowledges that we need to address a number of long-term challenges if we want to achieve all that our community is capable of achieving. While some of those challenges are financial, this effort is set on a broader foundation, one that seeks to identify ways for the community to move forward and to seize the bright future we all know awaits Terre Haute and Vigo County."
In April, 20 business, education and community leaders concerned about Terre Haute’s financial challenges sent a letter to Mayor Duke Bennett asking him to establish a commission to evaluate local government efficiency.
Pointing to the city’s “financial woes,” the group wanted the mayor — working with other city and county elected officials and private sector representatives — to look at potential ways to achieve savings and efficiencies “before further taxing our citizens.”
Those signing included representatives of business/industry, banking, higher education and hospitals.
In the letter, community leaders asked that a commission look at opportunities for cost savings through various ways that could include restructuring, combining city/county services and/or privatization.