Statement from Mayor Nick Lamb regarding Ohio House Bill 331 and Statewide Consolidation

Recent coverage by the Twin Creek Times and the Dayton Daily News has raised understandable concern among Farmersville residents regarding Ohio House Bill 331 and what it could mean for the future of our village. I want to address this directly, explain what the law does, and explain what I believe the State of Ohio is ultimately working toward.

What Ohio House Bill 331 Does

Ohio House Bill 331 became law on April 9, 2025. The bill establishes a new process tied to the 2030 Census that evaluates villages based on two criteria over the prior ten-year period (2020–2030):

• Whether the village provided at least five of ten defined core services, and
• Whether at least one candidate appeared on the ballot for each elected office during that same period.

If a village does not meet both criteria, an automatic ballot question is triggered in November 2031, asking voters whether the village should dissolve.
It is critical to understand that dissolution is not automatic. The decision would rest entirely with the voters of Farmersville.

The Specific Issue for Farmersville

The concern for Farmersville, and many well-run villages across Ohio, is not service delivery. Farmersville clearly meets and exceeds the core service requirement. The issue is the retroactive nature of the candidate requirement.

Although House Bill 331 was passed in 2025, it evaluates villages based on elections going back to 2020, well before the law existed. This means Farmersville effectively failed the law’s requirements the moment the bill became effective, with no opportunity to correct course for the 2030 Census period.

State Representative Rodney Creech has acknowledged this concern directly, stating that communities should not be “evaluated retroactively and penalized for past circumstances that occurred before the bill was enacted” and should instead be judged on current conditions and future potential.

My Responsibility

I also want to acknowledge my own role in this situation. While I was elected mayor in 2019, I was appointed to the position in 2023 when no candidates ran for the office. That reality (while common in small communities) contributes to the issue created by this law.

We cannot change the past, but we can and are taking responsibility for the future.

Our Plan Moving Forward

Farmersville has a clear plan to ensure full participation in elections going forward. This includes:

• Moving council meetings to a monthly schedule
• Increasing council compensation per meeting
• Commitments from currently appointed members to run for office
• Active recruitment of engaged community members
• My personal commitment to appear on the ballot when my term expires

While these actions will not change the 2030 Census evaluation period, they will position Farmersville for the 2040 Census and beyond.

What I Believe the State Is Really After

Based on conversations with state legislators, including State Representative Tom Young (Washington Township), a primary sponsor of House Bill 331, I believe this bill is step one of a broader statewide consolidation effort.

Ohio currently has nearly 2,500 sub-county governments (municipalities and townships). Ohio House Bill 331 was originally explained to State Representatives as a bill to give residents of underperforming villages – particularly those that collect taxes while offering few or no services – a path to dissolve and partner with stronger neighboring governments. The focus was not on consolidation, which is why so many State Representatives voted in favor to make this bill law. This is why so many State Representatives, including Rodney Creech, wish they could change their vote.

I believe villages are being addressed first because they are easier initial consolidation targets.

My concern is what comes next.

Small townships rely almost entirely on property taxes. They cannot levy income taxes and do not provide services such as water distribution, wastewater treatment, or centralized community amenities. If additional consolidation legislation is introduced – or if property taxes are eliminated, (a concept that currently has significant support if it makes the ballot) – many townships will not survive.

This is not hypothetical. Indiana House Bill 1315 has already proposed township consolidation right next door. Conversations around similar ideas are occurring in Ohio, confirmed by Tom Young.

If villages are dissolved into townships first, and townships are later dissolved or consolidated, the State achieves maximum consolidation. Where do they all go? The answer is fewer, larger sub-county governments. In my opinion, this is why villages are being targeted before townships.

I believe step one is so important for residents to get right because, in that future scenario, small villages like Farmersville will be needed to preserve services, and even the existence of neighboring townships, not the other way around.

Why I Am Not Concerned for Farmersville

Despite all of this, I am not concerned about Farmersville’s future.

Farmersville is a strong, well-managed community with deep pride and sound financial stewardship. We operate without debt, maintain a healthy budget, and plan responsibly for the future. We maintain excellent roads, operate award-winning water and wastewater systems, and employ highly respected professionals. Our goal is to become Ohio’s first 100% lead-free water system, and our staff has received statewide and legislative recognition for excellence.
These are not the characteristics of a failing village.

It is a fact that (unless the law changes) a dissolution question will appear on the ballot in November 2031. But I have no doubt that Farmersville residents, when presented with a dissolution vote, will overwhelmingly choose to keep our village.

Closing

I ask residents to stay informed, stay engaged, and participate in local government, especially by running for office and voting. The future of Farmersville should never be decided by default or by a small number of voices.

It should be decided, and ultimately will be decided, by the people who call Farmersville home.

Nick Lamb
Farmersville Mayor