About
Geography
Anderson Township in Madison County is a 36-square mile area located in east-central Indiana within the following boundaries:
North — Cross Street
South — County Road 400 South (67th Street)
East — Rangeline Road
West — Layton Road
Township Government
By far the largest single group of elected officials in Indiana, Township Trustees govern 1,002 townships covering the entire state of Indiana. Indiana is the only state in America that utilizes township government throughout the entire state. Like most elected officials, the Township Trustee is elected to and serves a four-year term. Many Township Trustees work at other jobs in addition to serving their constituents.
Assisting the Township Trustee in managing this very localized form of government is an elected three-member Township Board that also serves a four-year term. (Some townships have larger boards, as found in Indianapolis). Among its duties are the adoption of the annual budget, approving all salaries, as well as serving as the Board of Finance for the township.
Financial
Each September, the Trustee prepares and submits a budget for the upcoming year to the three-person township board for approval. As the Township Executive, the Trustee pays and records all claims against the township for expenses and salaries and is responsible for keeping accurate records following the financial guidelines set out in Indiana Code.
In February of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual report which shows all receipts, expenditures, investments and debts. The approved report is then published in local papers for public inspection.
Township Assistance
Distributing poor relief within the township is a primary duty of the Trustee. The Trustee is charged with caring for the poor by the most economic means available while ensuring that the basic essential needs of an individual or family are met. The applicant must show that they are unable to provide those needs through personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means, as required by state law.
Many Trustees coordinate and sometimes contract with other agencies in their areas, in delivering necessary services. The advantage the Trustee has over other forms of assistance is the freedom to discern whether an individual has and is willing to put forth the effort to help themselves. (IC Title 12)
Burials
Burial assistance is available from the Township Trustee when no other means of payment are available. The trustee, according to Indiana Code Title 12, is to oversee the burial of the indigent.
Anderson Township Trustee
Anderson Township Trustee – Mike Shively
Mike was first elected to the office of Anderson Township Trustee in November 2018. He was sworn in and assumed office on January 1, 2019, to serve a four-year term. He was re-elected in November 2022 to serve an additional four-year term.
"It is our mission to provide the necessary resources to the residents of Anderson Township when they are unable to provide the basic necessities in life for themselves. We will accomplish this with a dedication to service each client in a professional and compassionate manner, while remaining fiscally responsible and fully accountable to the taxpayers of Anderson Township."