City Charter

Who are cities with similar characteristics and/or experience?

• Grove City, Ohio (Strong Mayor, Council, Administrative Assistant) link

• Mt. Healthy, Ohio (Mayor-Council-Manager Plan) link

• Springdale, Ohio (Hybrid Mayor with City Administrator) link

• St Bernard, Ohio (Mayor-Council) link

• Westerville, Ohio (Council-Manager Plan) link

• Wyoming, Ohio (Council-Manager Plan) link

WHAT IS A CITY CHARTER — AND WHY IT MATTERS

What Is a City Charter? 

A city charter is like a constitution for our city. It sets the basic rules for how our local government operates…

• • The structure of city leadership (mayor, council, etc.)

  • How decisions are made

  • Financial rules and safeguards

  • The powers and responsibilities of elected officials

Why Consider a Charter? 

Creating a charter gives our community the chance to…

• • Modernize government to fit today’s needs

  • Increase local control over decisions

  • Improve accountability and transparency

  • Clarify roles and responsibilities

  • Build a long-term vision for governance

What Changes (and What Doesn’t)? 

A charter does…

• • Define how the city operates

  • Establish rules for governance and finances

  • Provide flexibility for local decision-making

A charter does not…

• • Automatically raise taxes

  • Change daily services (like trash pickup, police, etc.)

  • Override state or federal law

What is the process? 

The process for instituting a city charter is defined by the Ohio Constitution Article XVIII, Section 7 and Revised Code chapter 705

• • Council needs to pass an ordinance putting the question of a charter on the ballot between July 6, 2026 and August 5, 2026.

  • The question of “Should Norwood, Ohio adopt a city charter” is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

  • At the same election, 15 residents must run for an be elected to a Charter Commission.

  • That commission has one year to draft a charter.

  • Norwood voters decide if the specific charter drafted should be adopted on November 4, 2027.