Legislation introduced by state Rep. David Thomas would make it easier for larger townships to become cities with the Republican who represents portions of Trumbull County saying he’s talked with officials in Austintown, Boardman, Howland and Liberty about the bill.

“A township government is good when a township acts like a township, but a township of 20,000 people or more isn’t a township, it’s a city,” said Thomas, R-Jefferson.

Townships in Ohio need approval from villages and cities in a three-mile radius and must have a population of at least 25,000 to incorporate under current law.

The bill introduced by Thomas and state Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, eliminates the required approval of surrounding municipalities and lowers the population for townships to incorporate to 5,000.

The bill seeks to make it easier for townships to incorporate, offering a more efficient and flexible option for townships to do so based on population, density and the preference of residents, Thomas said.

The bill doesn’t change the requirement that at least 51% of electors in a township’s last gubernatorial election have to sign a petition seeking incorporation and submit it to the board of county commissioners.

But because of the current provision needing approval of surrounding cities and villages, Thomas said, “I don’t know the last time a large township became a city” in Ohio.

The bill is in the House Local Government Committee with Thomas expecting a first hearing next month.

Thomas said the idea came after “conversations with some local townships in Mahoning and Trumbull, who said they need more options for revenue and planning everything on property taxes is not good.”

Thomas said the talks were with officials in Austintown, Boardman, Howland and Liberty — the four most-populous townships in the two counties. Thomas’ district includes Liberty while Howland, Austintown and Boardman are in other House districts.

Liberty Trustee Greg Cizmar, who talked to Thomas about the bill, said he doesn’t have an interest right now in having the township become a city. But if a proposal to eliminate property taxes in the state gets on the ballot and is passed, the main source of revenue for Liberty would be gone and something would be needed.

“If they abolish property taxes, I want to be able to be our own city and not be part of Girard or Youngstown,” Cizmar said. “I don’t want to join a city. We haven’t talked about trying to be a city now. If they abolish property taxes, we would have to consider it. It’s another tool in the tool belt.”

Austintown Township Administrator Mark D’Apolito said the possible elimination of property taxes, which generate about 85% of the township’s revenue, is a concern.

“We’d be looking for a way to provide services if there are changes to property tax laws,” he said.

Thomas said: “This legislation would make the decision of transforming a township into a municipality up to the voters of the township, not allowing that choice to be blocked by surrounding cities or villages.”

The bill allowing townships to more easily become cities gives those communities an opportunity to reduce property taxes and diversify their tax bases with income taxes if they choose, Thomas said.