Section 503.02. Township boundaries changed by partition or division

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the board of county commissioners may change the boundaries of any civil township, or partition any township among other townships within the county, by attaching a part of one township to another, by dividing one township and attaching the parts to other townships, or by laying off and designating a new township from the territory of one or more townships of the same county or from territory not before included in a civil township, when it is made to appear necessary or expedient by a petition for that purpose, signed by a majority of the electors residing within the bounds of the townships to be affected by the partition or division, as determined by the number of votes cast in those townships for the office of governor at the most recent general election for that office.

If the board receives a petition to partition a township that has adopted a limited home rule government under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, signed by a majority of the electors residing in that township, the board shall certify the question of whether or not the township shall remain intact to the board of elections. The board of elections shall determine the validity and sufficiency of the signatures on the petition and, if there are enough valid signatures, shall place the question on the ballot at a special election to be held on the day of the next general or primary election in the township occurring at least ninety days after the petition is filed, for a vote of the electors within that township. If a majority of those voting vote against keeping the township intact, the board of county commissioners shall proceed to partition the township. If a majority of those voting vote for keeping the township intact, the board of county commissioners shall not partition the township and shall deny the petition.

(B) If a township is divided or partitioned under this section, the board of county commissioners shall apportion the funds in the township's treasury to the township to which portions of the divided or partitioned township are attached, or to the new townships established. This apportionment may take into account the taxable property valuation, population, or size of the portions created by the division or partition, as well as any other readily ascertainable criteria.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.29, HB 48, §1, eff. 7/2/2010.

Effective Date: 11-03-1999