The legislative authority of any municipal corporation, township, township park district, county, or school district desiring to join a joint recreation district created under section 755.14 of the Revised Code may, by resolution, petition the joint recreation district board of trustees for membership. If the joint recreation district does not impose a tax, the petitioning subdivision becomes a member upon approval by the joint recreation district's board of trustees. If the joint recreation district imposes a tax, the petitioning subdivision becomes a member after approval by the joint recreation district's board of trustees and after approval of the tax by the electors of the petitioning subdivision.

Upon certification by the board of trustees of the joint recreation district to the appropriate boards of election, the boards of election shall make the necessary arrangements for the submission of the question to the electors of the petitioning subdivision qualified to vote thereon. The election shall be held, canvassed, and certified in the manner provided for the submission of tax levies under section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, except that the question appearing on the ballot shall read:

"Shall the territory within ............... (Name of the subdivision to be added) be added to .................... (Name) joint recreation district, and a property tax at a rate of taxation not exceeding ................. (here insert tax rate) be in effect for ................. (here insert the number of years the tax is to be in effect)?" If the question is approved by at least a majority of the electors voting on it, the joinder shall be effective as of the first day of January of the year following approval, and on that date, the joint recreation district tax shall be extended to the taxable property within the territory that has been added.

The legislative authority of any subdivision that is a member of a joint recreation district may withdraw from it upon certification of a resolution proclaiming a withdrawal to the joint recreation district's board of trustees. Any subdivision withdrawing from a joint recreation district shall continue to have levied against its tax duplicate any tax levied by the district on the effective date of the withdrawal until it expires or is renewed. Members of a joint recreation district's board of trustees who represent the withdrawing subdivision are deemed to have resigned their position upon certification of a withdrawal resolution. Upon the withdrawal of any subdivision from a joint recreation district, the county auditor shall ascertain, apportion, and order a division of the funds on hand, moneys and taxes in the process of collection, except for taxes levied for the payment of indebtedness, credits, and real and personal property, either in money or in kind, on the basis of the valuation of the respective tax duplicates of the withdrawing subdivision and the remaining territory of the joint recreation district.

When the number of subdivisions comprising a joint recreation district is reduced to one, the joint recreation district ceases to exist, and the funds, credits, and property remaining after apportionments to withdrawing subdivisions shall be assumed by the one remaining subdivision. When a joint recreation district ceases to exist and indebtedness remains unpaid, the board of county commissioners shall continue to levy and collect taxes for the payment of that indebtedness within the territory of the joint recreation district as it was comprised at the time the indebtedness was incurred.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.155, HB 423, §1, eff. 3/13/2013.

Effective Date: 08-31-1976 .