Therefore, a township may not engage in activities which are not authorized by the Ohio General Assembly. If a township seeks to engage in an activity or offer a service not legally permitted, it must request that the General general interest to other townships, the General Assembly may be reluctant to enact the proposed legislation. In the absence of legislative authority for some government services, townships often depend on county government to provide these services. State law authorizes the election of three trustees to govern and a clerk to oversee the finances and records of a township. A township may hire an administrator and other personnel necessary to administer township services.
Property taxes provide the majority of funds for township services.
Other funds come from fees and state sources, such as grants from the Capital Improvement Program, local transportation taxes, and other small government programs. In 1990, at the request of Anderson Township, the Ohio Generl Assemby passed legislation authorizing townships to purchase privae property to be perserved in its naural condition and held in perpetuity. In 1991, the Ohio General Assembly adopted Township Government with Limited Home Rule. Limited Home Rule pen-nits townships to adopt broader powers to govern health, safety, and sanitation without seeking specific legislation from the General Assembly. Limited Home Rule legislation requires a township to hire a law director.