OF THE
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
All Amendments through June 2002
Editor’s Notations added December 2016
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Springfield Charter was originally adopted on August 26, 1913, and was most recently adopted on November 2, 1965. Dates appearing in parentheses following a section heading indicate that those provisions were subsequently amended, enacted, or repealed on the date given.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I - INCORPORATION; FORM OF GOVERNMENT; POWERS
Sec. 1. Incorporation.
Sec. 2. Form of Government.
Sec. 3. Powers of the City.
ARTICLE II - THE CITY COMMISSION
Sec. 4. Number; Selection; Term. (5-7-02)
Sec. 5. Qualifications. (8-7-01)
Sec. 6. Salary; Bond; Penalty for Absence.
Sec. 7. Presiding Officer; Mayor. (5-7-02)
Sec. 8. Powers.
Sec. 9. Appointment of City Manager.
Sec. 10. Removal of City Manager.
Sec. 11. Vacancies in the offices of Mayor or City Commission. (5-7-02)
Sec. 12. Creation of New Departments; Change of Duties.
Sec. 13. City Clerk.
Sec. 14. Meetings of the City Commission. (11-8-77)
Sec. 15. Special Meetings.
Sec. 16. Rules of Procedure; Journal. (5-8-90)
Sec. 17. Ordinances.
Sec. 18. Ordinance Enactment. (11-8-77)
Sec. 19. Emergency Measures. (11-8-77)
Sec. 20. Record and Publication. (11-8-77)
ARTICLE III - THE CITY MANAGER
Sec. 21. Powers and Duties.
Sec. 22. Absence of City Manager. (11-8-77)
Sec. 23. Administrative Departments.
ARTICLE IV - ELECTIONS
Sec. 24. Time of Holding Elections.
Sec. 25. Ballots.
Sec. 26. Petitions for Places on Primary Ballot. (5-7-02)
Sec. 27. Acceptance.
Sec. 28. Election. (5-7-02)
Sec. 29. Primary. (5-7-02)
ARTICLE V - TAXATION
Sec. 30. Taxation of Income. (11-8-83)
Sec. 31. Tax Limit.
ARTICLE VI - FINANCE
Sec. 32. The Estimate.
Sec. 33. Appropriation Ordinance.
Sec. 34. Transfer of Funds.
Sec. 35. Unencumbered Balances.
Sec. 36. Payment of Claims.
Sec. 37. Certification of Funds. (11-8-77)
Sec. 38. Money in the Fund. (11-8-77)
Sec. 39. Financial Report.
Sec. 40. Assessments.
Sec. 41. Improvements by Direct Labor.
Sec. 42. Expenditures Requiring City Commission Authorization. (11-6-90)
Sec. 43. Time of Making Contracts.
Sec. 44. Modification of Contracts.
Sec. 45. Mandatory Bidding (11-6-90)
Sec. 46. Contracts; When Void.
ARTICLE VII - CIVIL SERVICE
Sec. 47. Civil Service Commission. (11-4-97)
ARTICLE VIII - INITIATIVE
Sec. 48. Proposal Petition.
Sec. 49. Time of Filing.
Sec. 50. Petition for Election.
Sec. 51. Time of Holding Election.
Sec. 52. Accepted Voting Device.
Sec. 53. Amendments and Repeals.
ARTICLE IX - REFERENDUM
Sec. 54. Petition for Referendum. (11-8-77)
Sec. 55. Proceedings Thereunder.
Sec. 56. Referendum on Initiated Ordinances; Conflict.
Sec. 57. Emergency Measures.
Sec. 58. Preliminary Action.
ARTICLE X - RECALL
Sec. 59. Recall Petition.
Sec. 60. Notice.
Sec. 61. Recall Election.
Sec. 62. Voting Devices.
Sec. 63. Filling of Vacancies.
Sec. 64. Counting the Vote.
Sec. 65. Effect of Resignations.
Sec. 66. Miscellaneous Provisions.
Sec. 67. Offenses Relating to Petitions.
ARTICLE XI - FRANCHISES
Sec. 68. Grants Limited.
Sec. 69. Period of Grants.
Sec. 70. Assignment.
Sec. 71. Right of Purchase.
Sec. 72. Extension by Annexation.
Sec. 73. Right of Regulation.
Sec. 74. Forfeitures.
Sec. 75. Accounts and Reports.
Sec. 76. Grants not Included.
Sec. 77. General Provisions.
ARTICLE XII - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 78. Ordinances Continued in Force.
Sec. 79. Continuance of Present Officers.
Sec. 80. Continuance of Contracts and Vested Rights.
Sec. 81. Investigation.
Sec. 82. Oath of Office.
Sec. 83. Amendment of Charter.
Sec. 84. Saving Clause.
Sec. 85. When Charter Takes Effect.
Sec. 86. General Disqualifications.
Sec. 87. Political Activity. (5-7-02)
Sec. 88. Penalties.
Sec. 89. Meetings. (5-8-90)
Sec. 90. Restriction of City Commission's Urban Renewal Powers. (Repealed 5-4-71)
Sec. 91. Restriction of City Commission's Fair Housing Powers. (11-7-67)
Sec. 92. Police and Fire Divisions. (11-3-70)
Sec. 93. Fire Division; Fire Protection and Emergency Services Manpower. (11-6-90)
Sec. 94. Fees and Assessments. (5-5-87)
Sec. 95. Police Division; Special Assessment for Additional Personnel. (5-8-90)
Sec. 96. Police Division; Special Assessment for Additional Personnel. (5-2-95)
Sec. 97. Police Division; Special Assessment for Additional Personnel. (5-8-01)
CHARTER
OF THE
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
We, the people of the City of Springfield, Ohio, in order to obtain the benefits of local self-government, to incorporate more direct and businesslike methods in the transaction of our municipal affairs, and otherwise to promote our common welfare, do adopt the following Charter of our City.