Sec. 10. (a) This section does not apply to the appropriation of money to pay a deputy or an employee of a township assessor with assessment duties or to an elected township assessor.

     (b) As used in this section, “compensation” means the total of all money paid to an elected township officer for performing duties as a township officer, regardless of the source of funds from which the money is paid. The term includes all employee benefits paid to an elected township officer, including life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, retirement benefits, and pension benefits. For purposes of determining an increase or decrease in compensation of an elected township officer, the term does not include any of the following:

(1) Payment of an insurance premium.

(2) Payments in recognition of:

(A) longevity;

(B) professional certifications; or

(C) educational advancements;

that are separately identified on a salary ordinance or resolution.

(3) Payment of a stipend or per diem allowed by statute.

     (c) The township legislative body shall fix the compensation of all officers and employees of the township. Compensation shall be established using an annual, monthly, or biweekly salary schedule. An elected township officer is not required to report hours worked and may not be compensated based on the number of hours worked.

     (d) Subject to subsection (e), the township legislative body may reduce the salary of an elected or appointed official. However, except as provided in subsection (i), the official is entitled to a salary that is not less than the salary fixed for the first year of the term of office that immediately preceded the current term of office.

     (e) Except as provided in subsection (i), the township legislative body may not alter the salaries of elected or appointed officers during the fiscal year for which they are fixed, but it may add or eliminate any other position and change the salary of any other employee, if the necessary funds and appropriations are available.

     (f) If a change in the mileage allowance paid to state officers and employees is established by July 1 of any year, that change shall be included in the compensation fixed for the township executive and assessor under this section, to take effect January 1 of the next year. However, the township legislative body may by ordinance provide for the change in the sum per mile to take effect before January 1 of the next year.

     (g) The township legislative body may not reduce the salary of the township executive without the consent of the township executive during the term of office of the township executive as set forth in IC 36-6-4-2.

     (h) This subsection applies when a township executive dies or resigns from office. The person filling the vacancy of the township executive shall receive at least the same salary the previous township executive received for the remainder of the unexpired term of office of the township executive (as set forth in IC 36-6-4-2), unless the person consents to a reduction in salary.

     (i) In a year in which there is not an election of members to the township legislative body, the township legislative body may vote to reduce the salaries of the members of the township legislative body by any amount.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 17-4-28-1.1; 17-4-28-1.3.]

As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1980, P.L.125, SEC.27; P.L.352-1983, SEC.1; P.L.196-1984, SEC.1; P.L.319-1995, SEC.1; P.L.21-2002, SEC.2; P.L.169-2006, SEC.56; P.L.146-2008, SEC.713; P.L.6-2013, SEC.2; P.L.209-2019, SEC.16.