A coalition of New Richmond residents has launched a high-stakes bid to effectively erase their own village government, filing a petition yesterday that could land the question on the November ballot. Organizers say they want voters to decide whether New Richmond should remain an incorporated municipality or revert to township control. The filing kicks off a formal state process that could shift who delivers local services and how certain taxes are levied.
Petition Filed After Weeks Of Signature Gathering
Video from FOX19 shows petitioners turning in paperwork to local officials this week. The group behind the effort, calling itself the New Richmond Village Dissolution Initiative, had been collecting signatures for weeks. The Clermont Sun reported the campaign was aiming for roughly 300 signatures and, as of June 1, still needed about 189 more. Organizers were racing to gather those signatures within Ohio's narrow filing window ahead of the general election.
How The Petition Process Works In Ohio
Under Ohio law, a petition to dissolve a village must be signed by at least 30% of the electors who voted in the last regular municipal election and filed in an even-numbered year between July 1 and the date 90 days before the general election. Petitioners can file either with the village's legislative authority or directly with the county board of elections. If the legislative authority does not act on the petition within 30 days, petitioners may then file with the county board of elections, which can place the question on the ballot, according to guidance from the Legislative Service Commission.
What Dissolution Would Mean Locally
Village dissolution is the termination of a village: the village ceases to exist, and its territory returns to unincorporated status, the Legislative Service Commission explains. If voters approve dissolution, a Transition Supervisory Board of county officials would oversee unwinding the village's affairs - settling debts, disposing of or transferring property, and shifting utility and service responsibilities to the township or townships that absorb the former village. During that transition, certain municipal taxes or assessments can continue if needed to pay off outstanding obligations.
Local Context And What Is At Stake
New Richmond's petition arrives amid a streak of similar efforts in the region, with one nearby push in Batavia recently advancing toward the November ballot, according to local reporting. The Clermont Sun previously detailed New Richmond's organized signature drive and pointed to other local votes where residents weighed unincorporation. The filing fits a broader pattern in which small communities sometimes turn to dissolution to settle disputes over costs, services, or local planning. The outcome would directly shape zoning rules, local levies, and which level of government handles road and utility maintenance for village addresses.
What Happens Next
For now, the next steps are procedural. The petition must be accepted by the village clerk or filed with the Clermont County Board of Elections. If council does not act, petitioners may file with the board, and the question would appear on the general election ballot if all filing requirements are met. Residents looking for official deadlines or instructions on where to deliver petitions can turn to the county board of elections' published guidance and contact information.
Expect more local coverage as election officials review the paperwork and decide whether to certify a ballot question. Voters will see the final wording only after the county confirms the petition meets legal standards. This story will be updated as documents are certified and local officials respond.
