The advantage the Trustee's systems has over other forms of welfare is the freedom to discern whether or not an individual has and is willing to put forth that personal effort to help themselves. Burials Burial assistance is available from the Township Trustee when no other means of payment are available. The trustee, according to IC Title 12, is to oversee the burial of the indigent. In townships with a population under 10,000 the trustee is also the township assessor and is responsible for assessing the real and personal property within their township. Personal property is assessed yearly and consists of mobile homes and tangible personal property of an individual, business, or farm.
Real property is assessed during a reassessment period with new buildings being added yearly.
Each August, the trustee prepares and submits a budget for the incoming year to the three-person township board for approval. As the Chief Financial Officer of the township, the trustee pays and records all claims for the township expenses and salaries and is responsible to keep accurate records and follow all the financial guidelines set out in Indiana Code. In January 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. This includes those cemeteries which have been abandoned.