2. A Blank Check:

Would you approve a situation where the government was handing over to some entity a blank check? This merger vote would do exactly that. Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §709.46(C), "The costs of the commission shall be divided among the participating political subdivisions in proportion to the population that each participating political subdivision bears to the total population of the territory proposed to be merged."

There are no restrictions to how much money the merger commission can spend; we have no ability to limit it, make sure that it is being spent wisely, or set reasonable guidelines. The merger commission has free rein to hire attorneys, accountants, engineers, planners, consultants, etc. You name it, they can do it. How much will this cost? I have no idea, but the township will bear the majority of that burden. Interesting, it is township residents and businesses that will bear the brunt of the tax increase, and it is the township property owners that will bear the brunt of studying how to make the township residents and businesses pay more taxes. I don't like the way that works.