S.B. 240 Summary

• Enacts section 301.231 of the Revised Code to define "successor county" as a county that adopts a charter providing for succession to rights, properties, and obligations of municipal corporations or townships wholly located within the county.

• Grants successor counties all rights, powers, and responsibilities of counties and succeeded municipalities/townships, including the right to levy and collect municipal income taxes, and succession to all money, property, contracts, and accounts receivable.

• Makes successor counties legally obligated for all outstanding franchises, contracts, debts (including bonds and notes), and other binding obligations of succeeded municipalities and townships.

• Requires county charter petitions that provide for municipal/township succession to include signatures from at least 10 percent of electors in each affected municipality or township, and requires petition committees to have 5-7 members with at least two from the municipalities or townships proposed for succession.

• Specifies that charters providing for municipal/township succession require approval by a majority of county electors and a majority of electors in each municipal corporation and township proposed for succession to become effective.