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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 3381 | Arts and Cultural Affairs

 
 
 
Section
Section 3381.01 | Arts and cultural affairs definitions.
 

As used in sections 3381.01 to 3381.22 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Arts or cultural organization" means:

(1) Any corporation, organization, association, or institution that:

(a) Provides programs or activities in areas directly concerned with the arts or cultural heritage; and

(b) Is not for profit and whose net earnings may not lawfully inure to the benefit of any private shareholder, member, or individual.

(2) Any arts or cultural councils that satisfy the requirement of division (A)(1)(b) of this section.

(B) "Arts or cultural heritage" includes, but is not limited to, literature, theater, music, dance, ballet, painting, sculpture, photography, motion pictures, architecture, archaeology, history, natural history, or the natural sciences.

(C) "Arts and cultural district" means the territory of the counties, municipal corporations, or townships that have created a regional arts and cultural district under section 3381.03 or 3381.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Regional arts and cultural district" or "district" means a regional arts and cultural district created under section 3381.03 or 3381.04 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Artistic or cultural facility" or "facility" includes, but is not limited to, a performing arts center, a concert hall, a museum, a living arts center, and other property, improvements, or facilities used in connection therewith.

(F) "Qualifying arts or cultural organization" means any arts or cultural organization whose income is exempt from federal income taxation, has been in existence for at least three years or is a successor to an arts or cultural organization which had been in existence for at least five years, and has a permanent and viable base of operations within an arts and cultural district.

Section 3381.02 | Creation of regional arts and cultural district - district is political subdivision.
 

A regional arts and cultural district may be created for any of the following purposes: making grants to support the operating or capital expenses of arts or cultural organizations located within its district, or acquiring, constructing, equipping, furnishing, repairing, remodeling, renovating, enlarging, improving, or administering artistic or cultural facilities. A regional arts and cultural district is a political subdivision of the state and a body corporate, comprised of the territory of a county, or two or more counties, municipal corporations, townships, or any combination thereof. If more than one county is in a regional arts and cultural district, each county shall be contiguous to a county in the district, and, also in the case of a combination of political subdivisions, each municipal corporation or township shall either be contiguous to a county, municipal corporation, or township in the regional arts and cultural district, or each municipal corporation or township shall be located in a county that is contiguous to a county in the district.

Section 3381.03 | District created by adoption of resolution or ordinance - inclusion of additional territory.
 

Any county, or any two or more counties, municipal corporations, or townships, or any combination of these may create a regional arts and cultural district by the adoption of a resolution or ordinance by the board of county commissioners of each county, the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township that desires to create or to join in the creation of the district. The resolution or ordinance shall state all of the following:

(A) The purposes for the creation of the district;

(B) The counties, municipal corporations, or townships that are to be included in the district;

(C) The official name by which the district shall be known;

(D) The location of the principal office of the district or the manner in which the location shall be selected;

(E) Subject to section 3381.05 of the Revised Code, the number, term, and compensation, which shall not exceed the sum of fifty dollars for each board and committee meeting attended by a member, of the members of the board of trustees of the district;

(F) Subject to section 3381.05 of the Revised Code, the manner in which members of the board of trustees of the district shall be appointed; the method of filling vacancies; and the period, if any, for which a trustee continues in office after expiration of the trustee's term pending the appointment of the trustee's successor;

(G) The manner of apportioning expenses of the district among the participating counties, municipal corporations, and townships.

The resolution or ordinance may also provide that the authority of the districts to make grants under section 3381.20 of the Revised Code may be totally or partially delegated to one or more area arts councils, as defined in section 757.03 of the Revised Code, located within the district.

The district provided for in the resolution or ordinance shall be created upon the adoption of the resolution or ordinance by the board of county commissioners of each county, the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township enumerated in the resolution or ordinance. The resolution or ordinance may be amended to include additional counties, municipal corporations, or townships or for any other purpose by the adoption of an amendment by the board of county commissioners of each county, the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the board of township trustees of each township that has created or joined or proposes to join the district.

After each county, municipal corporation, and township has adopted a resolution or ordinance approving inclusion of additional counties, municipal corporations, or townships in the district, a copy of the resolution or ordinance shall be filed with the clerk of the board of the county commissioners of each county, the clerk of the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the fiscal officer of the board of trustees of each township proposed to be included in the district. The inclusion is effective when all such filing is completed unless the district to which territory is to be added has authority to levy an ad valorem tax on property within its territory, in which event the inclusion shall become effective upon voter approval of the joinder and the tax.

If a tax on property is to be levied, the board and the county auditor shall proceed in the same manner as required for a tax levy under section 5705.03 of the Revised Code, except that the levy's annual collections shall be estimated assuming that the additional territory has been added to the district. The board of trustees shall promptly certify the proposal and the auditor's certification to the board or boards of elections for the purpose of having the proposal placed on the ballot at the next general or primary election that occurs not less than sixty days after the date of the meeting of the board of trustees, or at a special election held on a date specified in the certification that is not less than sixty days after the date of the meeting of the board. If territory of more than one county, municipal corporation, or township is to be added to the regional arts and cultural district, the electors of the territories of the counties, municipal corporations, or townships which are to be added shall vote as a district, and the outcome of the election shall be determined by the vote cast in the entire district. Upon certification of a proposal to the board or boards of elections pursuant to this section, the board or boards of elections shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of the questions to the electors of the territory to be added to the district, and the election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the manner provided for the submission of tax levies under section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that the question appearing on the ballot shall read:

"Shall the territory within the ____________________ (name or names of political subdivisions to be joined) be added to ________________________________ (name) regional arts and cultural district? And shall a property tax that the county auditor estimates will collect $_____ annually at a rate not exceeding __________ mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $_____ (estimated effective rate) for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, be levied for purposes of such district?"

If the question is approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question, the joinder is effective immediately, and the district may extend the levy of the tax against all the taxable property within the territory that has been added. If the question is approved at a general election or at a special election occurring prior to a general election but after the fifteenth day of July in any calendar year, the district may amend its budget and resolution adopted pursuant to section 5705.34 of the Revised Code, and the levy shall be placed on the current tax list and duplicate and collected as other taxes are collected from all taxable property within the territory of the district, including the territory added as a result of the election.

The territory of a district shall be coextensive with the territory of the counties, municipal corporations, and townships included within the district, provided that the same territory may not be included in more than one regional arts and cultural district, and provided, that if a district includes only a portion of an entire county, a district may be created in the remaining portion of the same county by resolution of the board of county commissioners acting alone or in conjunction with municipal corporations and townships as provided in this section.

As used in this section, "the county auditor's appraised value" and "estimated effective rate" have the same meanings as in section 5705.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 15, 2022 at 8:54 AM

Section 3381.04 | District created in county containing city with population of 500,000 or more.
 

(A) In lieu of the procedure set forth in section 3381.03 of the Revised Code, any county with a population of five hundred thousand or more, at any time before the creation of a regional arts and cultural district under that section, may create a regional arts and cultural district by adoption of a resolution by the board of county commissioners of that county. The resolution shall state all of the following:

(1) The purposes for the creation of the district;

(2) That the territory of the district shall be coextensive with the territory of the county;

(3) The official name by which the district shall be known;

(4) The location of the principal office of the district or the manner in which the location shall be selected.

(B) The district provided for in the resolution shall be created upon the adoption of the resolution by the board of county commissioners of that county. Upon the adoption of the resolution, the county and the municipal corporations and townships contained in the county shall not thereafter be a part of any other regional arts and cultural district.

(C) The board of trustees of any regional arts and cultural district formed in accordance with this section shall be comprised of five members appointed by the board of county commissioners.

Section 3381.05 | Appointment of board of trustees.
 

Within sixty days after a regional arts and cultural district has been created, the board of trustees of the district shall be appointed as provided in this section.

Members of a board of trustees of a regional arts and cultural district created by the exclusive action of a county shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners of the county. A board of trustees of a district created by two or more political subdivisions shall consist of the number of members, and shall be appointed by the public officers or bodies, as shall be provided in the resolutions or ordinances creating the district, or any amendments to them.

All members of a board of trustees of a regional arts and cultural district shall be persons who have broad knowledge and experience in the arts or cultural heritage and shall have other qualifications as are specified in the resolutions or ordinances creating the district, or any amendments to them; provided that at least two members of the board of trustees shall be persons who devote a major portion of their time to practicing, performing, or teaching any of the arts or who are professional administrators in any field of the arts or cultural heritage, and the resolutions or ordinances creating the district shall so provide. All members of the board of trustees also shall be qualified electors in the district's territory.

The appointing authority shall consider for appointment as members of the board of trustees, but need not appoint, persons nominated by area arts councils, as defined in section 757.03 of the Revised Code, located within the district; provided that all those persons shall meet the qualifications specified in this section and the resolutions or ordinances creating the district. The resolutions or ordinances creating the district may, but need not, provide that the members of an area arts council located within the district shall constitute the board of trustees of the district.

The appointing authority, at any time, may remove a member of the board of trustees for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office.

The initially appointed members of the board of trustees of any regional arts and cultural district shall serve staggered terms of one, two, and three years. Thereafter, each member shall serve a term of three years, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed to only the unexpired term. Any member is eligible for reappointment, except as otherwise provided in the resolutions or ordinances creating the district, or any amendment to them.

Section 3381.051 | Organization and meetings.
 

A majority of the board of trustees of the regional arts and cultural district constitutes a quorum, the affirmative vote of which is necessary for any action taken by the district. No vacancy in the board shall impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all the duties of the district.

Each member of the board, before entering upon his official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation that he will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties of his office

After each member of the board has taken the oath required by this section the board shall meet and organize by electing one of its members as president and another as vice-president, who shall hold their respective offices until the next annual meeting of the board. At each annual meeting thereafter the board shall elect from its membership a president and a vice-president who shall serve for a term of one year.

The board shall appoint and fix the compensation of an executive director, who shall be the fiscal officer and shall not be a member of the board and who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. Each member of the board is entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses in the performance of his duties.

Section 3381.06 | Power and authority of board of trustees.
 

All the power and authority granted to a regional arts and cultural district shall be vested in and exercised by its board of trustees, which shall manage and conduct its affairs. The board, within the limitations of this chapter, shall provide, by rules, the procedure for its actions, the manner of selection of its president, vice-president, executive director, and other officers and employees, their titles, terms of office, compensation, duties, number, and qualifications, and any other lawful subject necessary or desirable to the operation and administration of the district and the exercise of the powers granted to it.

Section 3381.07 | Board of trustees - powers and duties.
 

Upon the creation of a regional arts and cultural district and upon the qualifying of its board of trustees and the election of a president and a vice-president, the district shall exercise in its own name all the rights, powers, and duties vested in and conferred upon it by this chapter. A regional arts and cultural district:

(A) May sue or be sued in its corporate name;

(B) May make contracts in the exercise of the rights, powers, and duties conferred upon it;

(C) May adopt and alter a seal and use that seal by causing it to be impressed, affixed, reproduced, or otherwise used, but failure to affix the seal shall not affect the validity of any instrument;

(D) May make, adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws for the administration of its affairs and rules for the administration and operation of any artistic or cultural facilities under its control and for the exercise of all of its rights of ownership in those facilities, provided, however, that it may not be directly involved in any programatic activities;

(E) May make grants, on such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable, to any arts or cultural organization within its district as provided in section 3381.17 of the Revised Code;

(F) May fix, alter, and collect rentals and other charges for the use of any artistic or cultural facilities under its control, to be determined exclusively by it for the purpose of providing for the payment of the expenses of the district, the acquisition, construction, equipping, improvement, extension, repair, maintenance, renovation, enlargement, administration, and operation of artistic or cultural facilities under its control, and the payment of principal and interest on its obligations, and fulfilling the terms of any agreements made with the purchasers or holders of any such obligations, or with any person or political subdivision;

(G) Shall have jurisdiction, control, possession, and supervision over the use and disposition of all property, rights, licenses, moneys, contracts, accounts, liens, books, records, or other property rights and interests conveyed, delivered, transferred, or assigned to it;

(H) May acquire, construct, improve, extend, repair, remodel, renovate, furnish, equip, enlarge, lease, or maintain artistic or cultural facilities within its territory as it considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, and make charges for the use of artistic or cultural facilities;

(I) May levy and collect taxes as provided in section 3381.16 of the Revised Code;

(J) May issue bonds secured by its general credit as provided in section 3381.08 of the Revised Code;

(K) May hold, encumber, control, acquire by donation, purchase, construct, own, lease as lessee or lessor, use, and sell real and personal property, or any interest or right in real or personal property, within or without its territory;

(L) May employ or retain and fix the compensation of employees, agents, accountants, attorneys, and consultants or advisors necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of its purposes;

(M) May procure insurance against loss to it by reason of damages to its properties resulting from fire, theft, accident, or other casualties or by reason of its liability for any damages to persons or property;

(N) May maintain funds as it determines necessary or desirable for the efficient performance of its duties;

(O) May procure a policy or policies insuring members of its board of trustees, and its officers, employees, and agents, against liability on account of damages or injury to persons and property resulting from any act or omission of such person in the person's official capacity or resulting solely out of the person's service to the district;

(P) May receive and expend gifts, grants, bequests, or devices, or grants, including, but not limited to, grants of public funds.

Section 3381.08 | Issuance of bonds - purposes for issuance - anticipation notes.
 

The regional arts and cultural district may submit to the electors within its territory the question of issuing bonds of such district and also the necessity of a tax outside the limitation of Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution, to pay the interest on and to retire such bonds. Such bonds when approved by the electors may be issued by the district to purchase, acquire, construct, replace, improve, extend, enlarge, renovate, remodel, equip, or furnish any artistic or cultural facility, provided that the net indebtedness, as defined for a municipal corporation in section 133.05 of the Revised Code, incurred by a district shall never exceed five per cent of the tax valuation of the district, and that no part of the proceeds of such bonds shall at any time be used to meet or defray any of the normal operating expenses of the district or any qualifying arts or cultural organization. The proceedings for such election and for the issuance and sale of such bonds shall be as provided by Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, provided that such a bond issue may be submitted to the electors and the bonds may be issued for any one or more of the purposes set forth in this section. Notes may be issued in anticipation of such bonds as provided in section 133.22 of the Revised Code. The board of trustees shall be the taxing authority or bond issuing authority of the district.

Section 3381.09 | Bonds to be free from state taxation.
 

Bonds issued under section 3381.08 of the Revised Code, their transfer, and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation within the state.

Section 3381.10 | Duties and bond of executive director.
 

The executive director of the regional arts and cultural district shall be the fiscal officer of the district and the custodian of its funds and records, and shall assist the board of trustees in such manner as it directs.

Before receiving any moneys, the executive director shall furnish bond in an amount determined by the board with surety satisfactory to it. The executive director shall deposit all funds received by him to the account of the district in one or more depositories as are qualified to receive deposits of county funds, which deposits shall be secured in the same manner as county funds. No disbursements shall be made from such funds except in accordance with rules adopted by the board of trustees of the district.

Section 3381.11 | Contracts which do and do not require competitive bidding procedure.
 

The board of trustees of a regional arts and cultural district or any officer or employee designated by such board may make any contract for the purchase of supplies or material or for labor for any work, under the supervision of the board, the cost of which shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. When an expenditure, other than for the acquisition of real estate, the discharge of noncontractual claims, personal services, or for the product or services of public utilities, exceeds ten thousand dollars, such expenditure shall be made only after a notice calling for bids has been published once a week for two consecutive weeks in one newspaper of general circulation within the territory of the district or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. The board may then let said contract to the lowest and best bidder, who shall give a good and approved bond with ample security conditioned on the carrying out of the contract. Such contract shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by or shall refer to plans and specifications for the work to be done, approved by the board. The plans and specifications shall at all times be made and considered part of the contract. The contract shall be approved by the board and signed on behalf of the district and by the contractor. No sale of any real or personal property or a lease thereof having a term thereof in excess of five years shall be made except with the highest and best bidder after publication of notice for bids in the manner above provided.

Competitive bidding under this section is not required when:

(A) The board, by a two-thirds affirmative vote of its members, determines that a real and present emergency exists and such determination and the reasons therefor are entered in the proceedings of the board, when:

(1) The estimated cost is less than fifteen thousand dollars; or

(2) There is actual physical damage to structures or equipment.

(B) Such purchase consists of supplies or a replacement or supplemental part or parts for a product or equipment owned or leased by the district and the only source of supply for such supplies, part, or parts is limited to a single supplier;

(C) The lease is a renewal of a lease for electronic data processing equipment, services, or systems;

(D) Services or supplies are available from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to sections 4115.31 to 4115.35 of the Revised Code;

(E) With respect to any contract, agreement, or lease by a district with any arts or cultural organization or any governmental body or agency.

Section 3381.12 | Contracts or arrangements with governmental bodies or with corporations.
 

The board of trustees of a regional arts and cultural district may enter into such contracts or other arrangements with the United States government or any department thereof, with the state government of this or any other state, with counties, municipal corporations, townships, or other governmental agencies created by or under the authority of the laws of this state or any other state, with persons, and with public or private corporations as may be necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers granted by this chapter.

Section 3381.13 | Status of employees.
 

All employees of a regional arts and cultural district shall be considered public employees within the meaning of section 145.01 of the Revised Code and its employees shall be subject to Chapter 145. of the Revised Code.

Section 3381.14 | Procurement of medical insurance for employees and dependents.
 

A regional arts and cultural district may procure and pay all or any part of the cost of group hospitalization, surgical, major medical, or sickness and accident insurance or a combination of any of the foregoing for the employees of the district and their immediate dependents, whether issued by an insurance company or a health insuring corporation duly authorized to do business in this state.

Section 3381.15 | County commissioners may appropriate annually portion of expense of district.
 

The board of county commissioners of any county, the legislative authority of any municipal corporation, and the board of township trustees of any township, included within a regional arts and cultural district may appropriate annually, from moneys to the credit of the general fund of the county, the municipal corporation, or the township and not otherwise appropriated, that portion of the expense of the district to be paid by the county, municipal corporation, or township as provided in the resolution creating or enlarging the district adopted under section 3381.03 of the Revised Code, or by any amendment to the resolution.

Section 3381.16 | Tax levy.
 

(A) Upon the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the qualified electors within the territory of a regional arts and cultural district voting on the question at an election held for the purpose, the district may levy upon the property within its territory a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to provide funds for any one or more of the purposes set forth in this section as specified in such question, not in excess of four mills annually on the total value of all property as listed and assessed for taxation for any period not exceeding five years. The district may use the funds provided from such levy for any one or more of the following purposes: to make grants to support the operating or capital expenses of any arts or cultural organization located within the district as provided in section 3381.17 of the Revised Code, to meet the operating expenses of the district including, without limitation, the operating expenses of any artistic or cultural facility controlled by the district, and to defray the cost of acquiring, constructing, equipping, furnishing, improving, enlarging, renovating, remodeling, or maintaining an artistic or cultural facility. Such election shall be called, held, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as is provided for elections held pursuant to section 5705.191 of the Revised Code. On approval of such a levy, notes may be issued in anticipation of the collection of the proceeds thereof, in the amount and manner and at the times as are provided in section 5705.193 of the Revised Code, for the issuance of notes by a county in anticipation of the proceeds of a tax levy. The district may borrow money in anticipation of the collection of current revenues as provided in section 133.10 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whenever the question of a tax upon property as provided in division (A) of this section has been rejected at an election, the district may thereafter submit the question at a subsequent election to the qualified electors of the largest municipal corporation located within the territory of the district, and to the qualified electors of any other municipal corporation or township located within such territory when its legislative authority or board of trustees has adopted a resolution requesting to be included in such election and has filed a copy thereof with the executive director of the district not later than ninety days prior to the date of the election.

Upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors of the largest municipal corporation voting on the question, the district may levy a tax as provided in division (A) of this section upon all property within the municipal corporation, and upon all property within any other municipal corporation or township included in the election when a majority of the qualified electors of such municipal corporation or township have authorized the tax.

Whenever a tax upon property has been authorized pursuant to this division, the legislative authority of any municipal corporation or the board of trustees of any township that is not subject to the tax, but is included within the territory of the district, may adopt a resolution requesting the district to hold an election submitting the question of levying the tax to the electors of such municipal corporation or township.

Any election held pursuant to this division shall be called, held, canvassed, and certified in the same manner as provided for elections held pursuant to division (A) of this section, and any tax authorized by an election held under this division shall grant the same authority and be subject to the same requirements with respect to the issuance of notes and the borrowing of money as provided in division (A) of this section.

(C) Any tax authorized by an election held under this section shall be levied annually as provided in section 5705.34 of the Revised Code during the period authorized, and any tax authorized under division (B) of this section shall be used only in those municipal corporations or townships which have authorized the tax. The collection of such tax levy shall conform in all matters to the provisions of the Revised Code governing the collection of taxes and assessments levied by taxing districts, and the same provisions concerning the nonpayment of taxes shall apply to taxes levied pursuant to this section.

Section 3381.17 | Annual grants to arts or cultural organizations - limitation - suggestions of area arts council.
 

From the funds available therefor from a tax levy authorized under section 3381.16 or, if applicable, sections 5743.021, 5743.321, 5743.511, 5743.621, and 5743.631 of the Revised Code, a regional arts and cultural district by action of its board of trustees shall make annual grants to support the operating or capital expenses of such of the arts or cultural organizations located within the territory of the district as the board of trustees shall determine; provided, however, that not more than ten per cent of the amount granted in any calendar year shall be granted to arts and cultural organizations that are not qualifying arts or cultural organizations; and further provided that prior to making any grants in any calendar year, the board of trustees shall afford an opportunity for the presentation, either in person or in writing, of the suggestions of any area arts council, as defined in section 757.03 of the Revised Code, located within the district. Any such grant to an arts or cultural organization shall be on such terms and conditions as the board considers advisable.

Last updated February 8, 2023 at 4:07 PM

Section 3381.19 | Conveyances, leases or exchanges of property between district and political subdivision or qualified organization without competitive bidding.
 

The legislative authority of any municipal corporation, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision or taxing district, may convey or lease to, or exchange with, any regional arts and cultural district or any district may convey or lease to, or exchange with, a municipal corporation, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision, taxing district, or any arts or cultural organization, without competitive bidding and at mutually agreeable terms, any personal or real property, or any interest therein, to be used by the recipient for its purposes.

Section 3381.20 | District exempted from property taxes - exception.
 

A regional arts and cultural district created under this chapter shall be exempt from and shall not be required to pay any taxes on property, both real and personal, belonging to any such district, which is used exclusively for any public purpose; provided, such exemption shall not apply to any property belonging to any district while a private enterprise, other than an arts or cultural organization, is a lessee of such property under written lease providing for tenancy for longer than one year.

Section 3381.21 | Cooperation with governmental agencies.
 

A regional arts and cultural district may cooperate with other governmental agencies of this state, or of the United States, to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

Section 3381.22 | Provision for dissolution of district or dissolution by board.
 

Subject to making due provisions for the payment and performance of its obligation, the resolution or ordinance creating a regional arts and cultural district may provide for its dissolution under circumstances described therein, or a district may be dissolved by its board of trustees with the consent of the subdivision or subdivisions creating such district. In the event of dissolution the properties of the district shall be transferred to the subdivision creating it, or if created by more than one subdivision, to the subdivisions creating it in such manner as may be agreed upon by such subdivisions.