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Local Government Officials Survey

Local Government Officials Survey

The Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (IACIR) periodically collects information on current issues affecting local governments in Indiana and/or services available to Indiana residents. Since 2010 these surveys have included questions that impact nonprofit organizations. Our team has used IACIR’s data to analyze issues such as attitudes towards PILOTs and SILOTs, trust in nonprofits, nonprofit-government relationships, 2-1-1 information service, and major disasters.

Read our most recent report on Indiana Local Government Officials (LGOs) and grants and contract considerations, published in Summer 2023

Read our most recent report on Indiana Local Government Officials (LGOs) and working relationships with nonprofits, published in Spring 2022

Read our most recent report on how local government officials rely on nonprofits for emergency response, published in Winter 2022

How do local government officials (LGOs) assess their communities' disaster preparedness and their reliance on nonprofits for disaster response?

Local Government Officials and Major Disasters: Assessing Preparedness of Nonprofits and Other Institutions (Winter 2023)
- Paper presented at the ARNOVA Annual Conference, November 2021
Indiana Local Government Officials and Major Disasters: Assessing Preparedness and Reliance on Nonprofits (Winter 2022)
- Press Release

The 2-1-1 program is a national telephone initiative to provide information and referral services to individuals seeking help or volunteer opportunities in the areas of health and human services. To what extent do Indiana local government officials know about 2-1-1 services offered in their communities?

Indiana Local Government Officials and 2-1-1 Services (Fall 2017)
- Press Release
Indiana Government Officials and Local 2-1-1 Services (Spring 2013)

To what extent do local government officials (LGOs) in Indiana contract with nonprofits? How has this changed since 2010?

To what extent do local government officials (LGOs) trust local charities and nonprofit organizations to do the right thing? What factors influence that trust? Why is LGO trust important for nonprofit organizations? What policy implications result from these findings?

Indiana Local Government Officials' Trust in Nonprofits(Fall 2022)
- Press Release
Indiana Government Officials and Trust in Nonprofits (Spring 2016)
Trust in Nonprofits: What Do Local Government Officials Think and Does It Matter?
- Paper presented at the ARNOVA Annual Conference, November 2014

What are PILOTs and SILOTs

Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) are payments made by property tax-exempt organizations to help cover the cost of community services to that tax-exempt property. Likewise, Services in Lieu of Taxes (SILOTs) are services provided by these organizations to offset the cost of community services. PILOTs are easy to access and much more common than SILOTs.

Why do PILOTs and SILOTs exist?

Nonprofit organizations are both income and property tax-exempt, and some local municipalities feel that too much of their land is exempt. They may be concerned that essential services will not have sufficient tax revenue to cover the costs associated with these services. Some municipalities ask nonprofits to provide services or pay a sum of money to cover the costs of these essential services.

Reports and Publications:

Indiana Local Government Officials: Exploring Support for PILOTs and SILOTs (Summer 2019)
“Local Officials’ Support for PILOTs/SILOTs: Nonprofit Engagement, Economic Stress, and Politics” (Winter 2016)
- Public Administration Review May 2016
Indiana Local Government Officials: Exploring Support for PILOTs (Payments-in-Lieu of Taxes ) (Spring 2016)
“Local Government Interest in and Justifications for Collecting Payments in-Lieu of (Property) Taxes from Charities” (Fall 2015)
- Presented at the ARNOVA Annual Conference, November 2013
- Presented at the 2014 Academy of Management Meeting, August 2014
- Published in Best Paper Proceedings of the 2014 Academy of Management Meeting
- Presented at the ARNOVA Annual Conference, November 2016
Indiana Government Officials and Nonprofit Property Taxes (Spring 2013)

To what extent do local government officials (LGOs) in Indiana support a collaborative relationship between local government and nonprofits? Why do LGOs support collaboration? Does their personal involvement with nonprofits play a role in this decision?

Indiana Local Government Officials and Working Relationships with Nonprofits (Spring 2022)
- Press Release
Indiana Local Government Officials' Opinions on Working Relationships with Nonprofits (Spring 2020)
- Press Release
Indiana Local Government Officials’ Opinions on Nonprofit-Government Relationships (Spring 2018)
Indiana Government Officials' Opinions on Nonprofit-Government Relationships (Fall 2015)
Personal Involvement and Professional Opinion: Local Government Officials’ Experiences with Nonprofits and Perceptions of the Relationship between Nonprofits and Government
- Presented at the ARNOVA Annual Conference, November 2014

Local Government Officials Survey