Section 703.331
(A) Not later than the last day of the year that is immediately after the year the results of a federal decennial census are released, the county auditor, county treasurer, and one member of the board of county commissioners selected by the board of county commissioners, jointly shall evaluate each village located within the county to determine if, over the approximate ten year period beginning the day the results of the preceding federal decennial census were released and ending the day the most recent federal decennial census results were released, both of the following are true:
(1) The village itself provided, the village contracted with a private nongovernmental entity to provide, or the village contracted with a regional council of governments as defined in section 167.01 of the Revised Code that includes three or more political subdivisions at least two of which are municipal corporations to provide, at least five of the following services:
(a) Police protection;
(b) Fire-fighting services;
(c) Garbage collection;
(d) Water service;
(e) Sewer service;
(f) Emergency medical services;
(g) Road maintenance;
(h) Park services or other recreation services;
(i) Human services;
(j) A public library established and operated solely by the village.
(2) At each election at which an elected village position was voted upon, at least one candidate appeared on the ballot for each elected village position.
If a village is located in more than one county, the village shall be evaluated only by the county officials of the county wherein the largest portion of the population of the village resides.
(B) Before beginning the evaluation, the county officials shall request, in writing, information from each village to assist the officials in making their determination. The request shall indicate the applicable evaluation period. Each village shall submit the information, in the manner requested by the county officials, not later than thirty days after receiving the request. The village shall include information about the services provided over the evaluation period, the manner by which such services were provided, a copy of the final appropriation budget or budgets applicable to the evaluation period, information on candidates on the ballot for village elected offices during the evaluation period, any documentation regarding the matters in division (A) of this section during the evaluation period, and any other information specifically requested by the county officials. After receiving the information, if necessary, the county officials may request additional information, which the village shall provide not later than ten days after receiving the request. The county officials shall base their finding on the information provided from the village.
(C) The county officials shall notify the legislative authority of the village of the county officials' finding not later than the last day of the year that is immediately after the year the results of a federal decennial census are released.
(D) If the county officials find a village failed to provide services or field candidates as specified in division (A) of this section, the county officials shall file the finding with the board of elections of the county in which the largest portion of the population of the village resides. The board of elections shall submit the question "Shall the village of __________ surrender its corporate powers?" for the approval or rejection of the electors of the village at the next general election, in any year, occurring after the period ending ninety days after the filing of the finding with the board. If the result of the election is in favor of the surrender, the board of elections shall certify the results to the secretary of state, the auditor of state, and the county recorder, who shall record it in their respective offices.
(E) The procedure in this section is in addition to the procedure under section 703.33 of the Revised Code for the dissolution of a village.
Last updated January 22, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- April 9, 2025 – Enacted by House Bill 331 - 135th General Assembly [ View April 9, 2025 Version ]