OHIO Townships with 3,500 to 5,000 residents in an unincorporated territory may adopt a limited Ohio ranks 7th among the states in number of home rule government upon petition of voters local governments with 3,702 as of October after a referendum. Townships with 5,000 or 2007. more population in their unincorporated area may adopt limited home rule government COUNTY GOVERNMENTS (88) powers, either after voter approval or by resolution of the board of township trustees There are no areas in Ohio lacking county under certain conditions. Such townships with government. The county governing body is 15,000 or more population are called “urban called the board of county commissioners. All townships.” but one county in Ohio operates in accordance with general statutes, although they may also PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS (668) organize, with voter approval, either under an alternate statutory form or under home rule School District Governments (668) charter. As of October 2007, Summit County is The following types of school districts in Ohio are the only county to adopt one of the alternate counted as separate governments for census forms (home rule charter). Its governing body is purposes: called the county council. City school districts SUBCOUNTY GENERAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENTS (2,246) Local school districts

The 2,246 subcounty general purpose Exempted village school districts governments in Ohio comprise the 938 municipal (authorization for formation of any (city and village) governments, and the 1,308 additional exempted village school township governments. districts, however, has been repealed)

Municipal Governments (938) Community college districts

Municipal governments in Ohio are the cities Joint vocational school districts (incorporated places having 5,000 inhabitants or more) and villages (incorporated places with An elected board of education governs each city fewer than 5,000 inhabitants). Cities and school district, local school district, or exempted villages may exist within township areas; village school district. These districts may levy however, when the boundaries of a township are local school taxes and issue bonds with voter coterminous with the boundaries of a city or approval. village, the township ceases to exist as a separate government. The minimum population A school district previously under state requirement for incorporation is 1,600 for a supervision (“municipal school district”) may be village and 25,000 for a city. governed by a board whose members either are elected or appointed by the mayor of the Township Governments (1,308) municipality containing the greatest portion of the district’s area. The entire area of the state is encompassed by township governments, except for townships that Community college districts may be established are coterminous with a city or village. Townships by resolution of one or more counties having a that are coterminous with a city or village are not total population of 75,000 or more, or by petition counted as separate governments in census to the county board of elections. Approvals by statistics on governments. Township the voters and by the state board of regents are governments are governed by boards of required. A board of trustees, with three township trustees. members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the senate and six members center for supervision of local schools. They are appointed by the board of county governed by an elected board. Joint educational commissioners, governs each district. service centers may be formed by up to five Community college districts may establish fees counties. Joint centers are governed by elected and tuition, levy school taxes and issue revenue boards as well, and may include additional and general obligation bonds. Tax levies and members appointed by the elected members. general obligation bonds require voter approval. These centers are not counted as governments, but are classified as a dependent activity of the Joint vocational school districts are established county government(s) they serve. for joint support of vocational schools by two or more regular school districts, with approval by Authorizing legislation for ''Joint high school the state board of education. The joint vocational districts'' was repealed in 1993. school district board consists of representatives from the boards of the participating school County school financing districts may be formed districts. Joint vocational school districts may by an educational service center to finance issue bonds and levy ad valorem taxes with voter special education, school improvements, and approval. They are counted as school district specified educational programs. These districts governments in census reporting. A joint are governed by an educational service center vocational school district, if it is located within a board within its service area. Because county single county, may as an alternative, be school finance districts participate in activities on governed by the educational service center behalf of the educational service centers, they board. are not counted as separate governments for census purposes. Dependent Public School Systems (0) Cooperative education school districts may be Ohio has no dependent public school systems. formed out of existing county school financing districts, for the purpose of operating a joint high Other Educational Activities school, by identical resolutions of a majority of the individual school districts in the service area. Ohio law permits school districts to enter into The district may be governed by the educational agreements for joint or cooperative provision of service center board serving ex-officio, or by a facilities, programs, projects, activities, or board composed of at least one member services, subject to the approval of the state appointed by each participating school district, superintendent of public instruction. Pursuant to and one or more members appointed by the this law, Ohio Education Computer Network educational service center. These districts are facilities and special education regional resource classified as activities of the school districts they centers have been established. serve and are not counted as separate governments. Technical college districts are created by the state board of regents after local school boards Prior to September 4, 1947, school districts were or qualified voters submit a resolution or petition permitted to establish by resolution free public after a referendum in affected areas. Such libraries. The law provides for the continuance of districts are largely state supported. They are not those in existence at that time. Such a library is counted as governments in census reporting, but classified for census purposes as a dependent are classified as state institutions. In addition, agency of the establishing school district, and is there are state community college districts, with not counted as a separate government. A board trustees appointed by the Governor with consent of trustees appointed by the school district board of the senate, that are classified as state governs each such library. While the sponsoring institutions and are not counted as separate school district may levy an ad valorem tax for governments. library purposes, most libraries are financed from the proceeds of a portion of the state income tax Each county comprises an educational service (distributed on the basis of budgets submitted by the library boards of trustees to the board of more townships and one or more municipalities, education of the school district) that is made or by joint resolution of two or more townships or available to libraries that offer free library service of two or more municipalities. A board of to all county residents. trustees, selected from the governing boards of the participating governments, governs each SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS (700) district. The district may impose charges, levy ad valorem taxes, and issue bonds upon voter Ohio statutes authorize the creation of a variety approval. of special districts or authorities that are counted as governments. These are discussed in detail Joint Fire and Ambulance Districts below. These districts are established by joint resolution Conservancy Districts of the governing bodies of a joint fire district and a joint ambulance district whose geographic These districts provide for flood control, service areas are identical. Districts may also be reclamation, irrigation, water conservation, water established by resolution of the governing bodies supply, and sewage disposal within a given area. of one or more townships and one or more They may be established by the court of municipalities, or by joint resolution of two or common pleas of a single county, or by joint more townships or two or more municipalities. A action of the courts of two or more counties, on board of trustees, which is appointed as provided petition of landowners or governing bodies of by the authorizing agreement, governs each public corporations or watershed districts and district. The district may fix charges and, after after hearing. The district board of directors is referendum, may levy ad valorem taxes and appointed by the court of common pleas. issue general obligations bonds. On creation of Conservancy districts may issue bonds, levy the joint fire and ambulance district, the special benefit assessments, and fix rates for the participating districts cease to exist as separate sale of water. Irrigation districts may also be governments. formed under this chapter. Joint Solid Waste Management Districts-- Joint Ambulance Districts 1953 Law

Joint ambulance districts may be established by Districts to provide solid waste collection and resolution of the governing bodies of one or disposal are created by resolution of one or more townships and one or more municipalities, more counties. A population minimum of or by joint resolution of two or more townships or 120,000 applies in some cases. A board of of two or more municipalities. A board of directors, consisting of the county trustees appointed by the governing bodies of commissioners of each participating county, or of the participating governments governs each members appointed by the county governing district. Joint ambulance districts may fix charges body in counties not having a board of county and rates, and, after referendum, may levy ad commissioners, governs each district. The valorem taxes and issue general obligation districts may charge fees and issue revenue bonds. Some districts of this type are called bonds. In addition, participating counties may emergency medical services districts. They are levy ad valorem taxes and issue bonds on behalf separate from joint emergency medical services of the districts. Districts under this law that serve districts established by county boards of only one county are not counted as separate commissioners, which are classified as county governments. See ''Subordinate Agencies and dependent agencies. Areas,''below.

Joint Fire Districts Joint Township Hospital Districts

Joint fire districts may be established by These districts may be established by vote of the resolution of the governing bodies of one or governing bodies of any two or more contiguous municipalities or townships. A board consisting upon approval by the state library board. of all members of the boards of trustees of the The library system trustees are selected participating townships, plus representatives from the members of the governing from each participating municipality, governs bodies of the participating libraries. each district. The districts may accept county These organizations provide and and township appropriations, impose charges, coordinate regional library services, may and, with voter approval, levy taxes. Bond issues receive state, local, and Federal funding, must be approved by the voters. and may also receive funding in connection with contracts. Library Districts Authorizing legislation for area library service Three types of library districts in Ohio are organizations was repealed in 1999. counted as special district governments. These districts are to be distinguished from public Metropolitan Housing Authorities libraries administered by county, municipal, township, or school district governments. These authorities are established by the state director of development. The governing body of County library districts. These districts an authority consists of members appointed by may be created by the county the leadership of the governing bodies and commissioners on approval by the voters, courts of participating counties and highly or by the boards of trustees of libraries populated municipalities. The number of serving school districts on approval of the appointees is dependent on the size and taxing authorities of the subdivisions composition of the county. The authorities may having jurisdiction over the libraries. A issue bonds, fix rates and rents, and accept board of trustees, consisting of three grants or contributions. members appointed by the judges of common pleas and four appointed by the New Community Authorities county commissioners, governs each district. These districts are created by resolution of the board of county commissioners of each of the Regional library districts. These counties in the district or, under certain districts are created by joint resolution of circumstances, by the governing body of a the commissioners of two or more municipality within the district, after a hearing on contiguous counties. The library trustees a petition filed by a community developer and are appointed jointly by the boards of after concurrence of proximate cities. A board of county commissioners. trustees, initially appointed but thereafter elected, governs each district. New community Both county and regional library districts may set districts may fix and collect service fees, rentals ad valorem taxes. In practice, however, these and community development charges; and may library districts are financed from the proceeds of issue revenue bonds. a portion of the state income tax (distributed on the basis of budgets submitted to the library Park Districts boards of trustees) that is made available to libraries that offer free library service to all Ohio statutes authorize two types of park county residents. districts:

Regional Library Systems. These Park districts. These districts are districts are created by agreement among created by the county probate judge on the boards of trustees of public libraries in petition of the voters or of any county, two or more counties, or among four or municipal, or township governing body more libraries within a metropolitan area and after public hearing. A board of park as defined by the state library board, and commissioners appointed by the probate judge governs each district. The district Regional Airport Authorities may issue bonds and may levy ad valorem taxes and benefit assessments. Regional airport authorities are established by resolution of the board of county commissioners Township park districts. These districts of a single county or from two or more may be created by the court of common contiguous counties. A board of trustees, pleas on petition of the voters to the selected in the manner specified by the township trustees. They are governed by resolution creating the authority, governs each boards of park commissioners appointed authority. The board may issue revenue bonds by the court of common pleas or, if the and collect rates, rentals, and charges for use of entire park district is contained within the facilities. unincorporated area of the township, by the board of township trustees. The Regional Arts and Cultural Districts districts may impose charges, levy ad valorem taxes, and upon voter approval, These districts are formed by resolution of a issue bonds. county or a combination of counties, municipalities, or townships. They operate Joint Recreation Districts. These cultural facilities and support existing arts and districts are created by townships, cultural organizations. A district's board of municipalities, counties, boards of trustees is appointed by the governing bodies of township park commissioners, boards of the governments which created it. It may collect education, and other political rents and charges, and with voter approval, levy subdivisions. The districts are governed property taxes and issue bonds. by a board of trustees appointed by the member governments. The districts may In counties with a population greater than issue bonds which are paid for by sales 500,000, such districts may, as an alternative, be and use tax levies. governed by the board of county commissioners. In such cases, the district is not counted as a Port Authorities government. See ''Subordinate Agencies and Areas,'' below. Port authorities may provide port or airport facilities within an area or promote economic Regional Solid Waste Management development, housing, and other activities. They Authorities (1988 Law) may be established by a municipal, county, or township government, or by a combination Under this law, authorities providing solid waste thereof. If established by more than one collection and disposal services are created by government, the number of directors appointed resolution of one or more counties or board of to represent each participating government is directors of a joint solid waste management determined by agreement among the district, after approval by a majority of the participating governments. Port authorities may municipal and township governments in the area collect rates and charges and issue revenue served. A board of trustees governs each bonds. They may also levy ad valorem taxes and authority; it includes representatives appointed issue general obligation bonds upon voter by each participating county, as provided in the approval. agreement creating the authority, plus members appointed jointly by the municipal and township Port authorities serving only one county, governments served. The authorities may fix municipal, or township government are not fees and charges and may issue revenue bonds. counted as separate governments. See ''Subordinate Agencies and Areas,'' below. Regional Transit Authorities

Regional transit authorities may be established by any county or by two or more counties, municipalities, or townships by resolution or board of supervisors governs each district. The ordinance of their governing bodies. If an district may levy special assessments and authority is created exclusively by action of one receive revenue from donations, gifts, and county, the authority board members are contributions. The district may also receive state appointed by the county commissioners. If an aid, county general fund contributions, charge authority is created by two or more governments, and collect rents and charges, and the proceeds its board members will be appointed by public from a county ad valorem tax. officers specified in the initiating resolution. If an authority is created by one county and two municipalities, where the county has at least five Transportation Improvement Districts hundred thousand residents, its board members will be appointed by the county commissioners Districts to construct or improve road, public and the leadership in the two most populous place, building or other infrastructure are municipalities. The authorities may impose rates established by resolution of the board of county and charges for services, accept grants, and commissioners. A board of trustees governs the issue revenue bonds. The authority may also districts; its members are appointed based on issue general obligation bonds, levy sales and two methods provided by the authorizing state use taxes, and levy ad valorem taxes upon voter legislation. The district board may issue revenue approval. bonds, levy benefit assessments, receive Federal and state aid, and impose charges for Regional Water and Sewer Districts and projects. Districts may also levy a motor vehicle Authorities license tax, upon voter approval.

These districts may be created by the court of common pleas on petition of one or more Watershed Districts municipal, township, or county governments, or any combination thereof, and after hearing. A These districts are established after a map and board of trustees selected in a manner description of the proposed district are prepared determined by each district governs each district. by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency The districts may levy special assessments, fix and filed with the secretary of state and each and collect rates and charges, issue bonds, and participating county. The participating counties, with voter approval, may levy ad valorem taxes. at an organizational meeting of the president (or designated representative) of each board of Sanitary Districts county commissioners, appoint a board of directors to administer the district. Fiscal Sanitary districts to provide sewerage, garbage requirements of each district are prorated among disposal, and water supply facilities, to take pest the constituent counties on the basis of the abatement measures, or to prevent stream taxable value of real and personal property in the pollution, may be established by the court of district. common pleas, on petition of land-owners or of any governmental corporation, after public SUBORDINATE AGENCIES AND AREAS hearing. A board of directors, whose appointment depends on the type of district Shown below are various governmental involved, governs each district. The district board designations in Ohio that have certain may issue bonds, levy ad valorem taxes and characteristics of governmental units but that are benefit assessments, and impose charges for classified in census statistics as subordinate services. agencies of the state or local governments and are not counted as governments. Legal Soil and Water Conservation Districts provisions for some of the larger of these are discussed below (see ''Public School systems,'' Ohio law provides that each county constitutes a above, regarding educational agencies of this soil and water conservation district. An elected nature). Ohio Public Facilities Commission (state). Among the subordinate agencies and areas This commission was created by act of the listed below, some represent ''special taxing legislature. It consists of the following State areas'' within the territory of an established officials: the Governor, the state auditor, the government. This method of financing additional state treasurer, the secretary of state, the services in limited areas by property taxation, attorney general, and the director of budget and while also used by some municipal and township management. The commission may issue governments in a few states, is more widely revenue bonds payable from rentals and charges utilized by county governments. for facilities.

Ohio Air Quality Development Authority Ohio Turnpike Commission (state). This (state). This authority was created by act of the commission was established by act of the legislature to finance air pollution control legislature to build, operate, and maintain the facilities. A board of seven members, five of Ohio Turnpike. It consists of four members whom are appointed by the Governor, plus the appointed by the Governor with the consent of director of environmental protection and the the senate, plus the following officials ex officio: director of health ex officio, governs the the director of transportation, the director of authority. The authority may make loans and budget and management, the director of grants, fix rents and other charges, accept grants development, one member of the senate and contributions, and issue revenue bonds. appointed by the president of the senate, and one member of the house appointed by the Ohio Building Authority (state). This authority speaker of the house. The commission may was established by act of the legislature. issue revenue bonds and collect tolls and fees. Authority board members are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the senate. The Ohio Water Development Authority (state). authority may fix rents and charges for its This authority was created by act of the facilities and may issue revenue bonds. legislature to build and finance water development, solid waste treatment, wastewater Ohio Higher Educational Facility Commission treatment, and energy resource development (state). This commission was created by act of facilities. The authority board consists of eight the legislature to finance facilities for institutions members, of whom five members are appointed of higher education. The commission consists of by the Governor with the consent of the senate, nine members, including eight members plus the directors of natural resources, appointed by the Governor with the consent of environmental protection, and development, who the senate, plus the Chancellor of the Ohio serve in an ex officio capacity. The authority may board of regents ex officio. The commission may make loans; receive rents, rates, and other fix rentals and other charges and may issue charges; and issue revenue bonds. revenue bonds. Other examples include: Ohio Housing Finance Agency (state). This agency was created by act of the legislature to State provide mortgage credit for low and moderate income housing. A board of eleven members, Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing including nine appointed by the governor with the Authority consent of the senate, plus the director of Cultural Facilities Commission commerce and the director of development ex eTech Ohio Commission officio, governs the agency. The agency may fix Mining districts interest rates, fees, and charges; accept grants Ohio Agricultural Financing Commission and contributions; and issue revenue bonds. Ohio Expositions Commission Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association Ohio Rail Development Commission Ohio School Facilities Commission Ohio State Lottery Commission Municipal Ohio State University Housing Commission Partnership for Continued Learning City bridge commissions State university housing commissions City health districts Third frontier commission City sewer districts (sanitary and storm) Trapping and fishing districts City water supply districts Joint economic development districts County Joint municipal improvement districts Joint sewer districts Convention facilities authorities Port authorities serving a single municipality County bridge commissions Rapid transit commissions County emergency planning districts Resort area taxing districts (municipal) County road districts Special improvement districts County transit systems Union cemetery boards County tuberculosis control units Countywide emergency management agencies Township General health districts Joint county and county alcohol, drug addiction, Fire districts and mental health service districts Joint economic development districts Joint county emergency medical services Joint township cemeteries districts Joint township police districts Joint county public defenders Lighting unicorporated districts Joint county tuberculosis clinics Port authorities serving a single township Joint detention and juvenile facilities districts Resort area taxing districts (township) Joint sewer districts Road districts Port authorities serving a single county Township police districts Regional arts and cultural districts governed by Union cemetery boards county commissioners Waste disposal districts Regional authorities for emergency management (serving two or more counties) Ohio laws also provide for various types of local Sewer districts areas for election purposes and administration of Solid waste management districts (formerly justice. garbage and refuse disposal districts)--1953 law Veterans service commissions