SB 174 Summary

• Eliminates requirement for reorganization committees effective January 1, 2013; legislative bodies of reorganizing political subdivisions shall instead prepare reorganization plans directly.

• Requires reorganization plans to include comprehensive fiscal impact analyses detailing estimated effects on taxpayers, service costs, capital improvements, and impacts on non-participating political subdivisions; analysis must be submitted to Department of Local Government Finance at least six months before election.

• Implements approval threshold voting requirements for reorganizations involving municipalities and townships (effective after December 31, 2012), requiring approval percentages greater than 50% but not more than 55% in separate voting areas, rather than optional rejection thresholds under prior law.

• Requires Department of Local Government Finance to review ballot language for public questions on reorganization to ensure descriptions of reorganized subdivisions are accurate and unbiased, with final department approval required before certification.

• Permits reorganized political subdivisions combining townships and municipalities to exercise park and recreation powers and planning/zoning authority if authorized in reorganization plan; restricts other political subdivisions from taking certain actions (annexation, infrastructure expansion, etc.) within reorganizing areas after plan adoption.