Friday, September 03, 1999
Home rule sounds good to officials in Anderson
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — Home rule has not been a dinner table discussion for most people in this east side township of 50,000, but it may be now.
In May, Ohio passed a law that gives townships the authority to adopt a limited form of home rule. That law takes effect Sept. 20.
“It may be something we will want to take a look at,” said Russ Jackson, president of the Anderson Township Board of Trustees.
Frederick Kiel, township attorney, said the form of government now is purely statutory.
“The township cannot pass a resolution to do anything if there is no state law authorizing it,” Mr. Kiel said.
The new township model of home rule passed by the state allows township trustees to adopt the model by a resolution, if the population is more than 15,000.
Residents may rescind the resolution through a ballot initiative.
The new home rule model has to be voted in by residents if the population is less than 15,000.
“Even if we adopt the township model of home rule, we will not be able to pass laws as municipalities can,” Mr. Kiel said.
If adopted, townships can pass ordinances and contract with independent legal counsel and engineers, rather than rely on county resources.
A big advantage under the new law is it will allow townships to borrow at the same rate as cities, villages and counties, said Jean Schmidt, vice chairwoman of the Miami Township Board Trustees.
She said giving townships the same borrowing power as municipalities could put them on an equal footing.
“It makes a big difference in what you can do if you buy a house and have to pay for it in five years instead of 30 years,” she said.
Now, townships may only borrow on land, but they have to pay off the loan in five years.
“The new law gives townships a wonderful option, especially those townships with high-growth potential and where they have to balance business development with residential expansion,” Mrs. Schmidt said.
She said she hopes to get home rule adopted when the township board meets later this month.
“Under the law we have to conduct public hearings before we adopted a resolution, but I plan to get those started,” Mrs. Schmidt said.
Home rule also will give townships an added weapon in fighting annexation.
A recent survey, conducted by the Township Government Center, showed that 41 percent of residents favor the limited form of self-government.
The survey, conducted during the Anderson Days Festival last month, asked residents if they preferred home rule, the current form of government or incorporation.
The Anderson Township survey showed that 38 percent of residents want to keep the government as is and 21 percent said to incorporate as a municipality.
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