Under Indiana’s system of local government, most counties do not have an individual county executive officer but a group of elected county commissioners who serve as a collective executive body. Marion County voters elected their first three Marion County Commissioners in 1822, and the commissioners met for the first time on April 15 of that year.

Each commissioner’s seat was filled by the voters until 1970 when the Unigov reorganization of local government in Marion County ended the practice of separately electing the Marion County Commissioners. Since then the elected Marion County Assessor, Marion County Auditor, and Marion County Treasurer have also served as the three county commissioners, and many of their previous functions as the county’s chief executive body have been assumed by the Unigov Mayor.

Most functions retained by the commissioners concern county government finances. In addition to their responsibilities as county assessor, auditor, and treasurer, the commissioners must approve and sign any county-backed bonds. The commissioners also appoint individuals to 11 county government boards, including the Capital Improvement Board, the Health And Hospital Corporation Board, and the Metropolitan Development Commission.

Revised March 2021
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