The Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township are proposing to reorganize as a single political subdivision. If approved by voters, the reorganized community would operate under one local government rather than having separate town and township governments. The final Plan of Reorganization was adopted by the Town and Township on June 22, 2026.

Voters in the Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township will be eligible to vote on the referendum, subject to Indiana’s normal voter registration and eligibility requirements. The referendum will appear in the precincts located within the political subdivisions proposing to reorganize.

The reorganization referendum will appear on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot.

If a majority of voters voting on the question approves the reorganization, Ellettsville and Richland Township will become a single reorganized political subdivision according to the Plan of Reorganization. The reorganized government is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.

The Plan of Reorganization outlines how governmental functions, property, finances, employees, contracts, records, services and other responsibilities will transition to the reorganized government.

If the referendum does not receive the required approval from voters, the proposed reorganization will not take effect. Ellettsville and Richland Township will remain separate political subdivisions under their existing governmental structures.

The goal of the proposed reorganization is to create a more coordinated local government structure that can support long-term economic development, infrastructure planning, land-use decisions and community growth.

A single local government could provide greater coordination between planning, zoning, infrastructure and other community priorities. The actual effects on individual businesses will depend on future decisions made by the reorganized government.

Reorganization would combine the governmental structures of the Town and Township, but it does not automatically mean that everyone’s property taxes will increase or decrease by a specific amount.

The financial impact will depend on the budgets, tax rates, revenues, expenditures and decisions of the reorganized government. The Finance Subcommittee’s report and Final Plan provide detailed financial information and projections related to the proposed reorganization.

The proposed reorganization is intended to strengthen and coordinate fire and emergency services. Public safety was specifically considered as part of the reorganization process, including the future funding and administration of fire protection and emergency response.

The Public Safety Subcommittee’s work and the Final Plan provide additional information about the proposed transition and future public safety structure.

Planning and zoning would be handled through the reorganized local government, creating a more unified approach to land use and development across Ellettsville and Richland Township.

The proposed reorganization is intended to keep land-use decisions local while providing a coordinated framework for managing future growth and development.

Township responsibilities, including public assistance, would transition to the reorganized government as outlined in the Plan of Reorganization.

The Township Subcommittee examined the transition of township functions, records, contracts, assets, liabilities and services as part of the reorganization process.

The reorganized community would be governed as a town with a seven-member Town Council made up of representatives from both the current Town of Ellettsville and Richland Township. The Plan of Reorganization establishes the proposed governmental structure and provides for the transition from the current separate town and township governments.

The complete Final Plan of Reorganization, adopted June 22, 2026, along with supporting exhibits, resolutions and subcommittee reports, is available on the official Ellettsville–Richland Township Reorganization website.

View the Final Plan of Reorganization and Supporting Documents