(1) The unification review commission shall study matters relating to the feasibility of forming a unified local government and, if unification is proposed, develop a unification plan consistent with the provisions of the Kentucky Constitution and KRS § 67.900 to KRS § 67.940. A unification plan shall include:
(a) The process for establishing the unified local government;
(b) A description of the form, structure, functions, and powers of the proposed unified local government;
(c) A description of the officers of the proposed unified local government and their powers and duties;
(d) A procedure for the orderly and timely transition of specified services, functions, and responsibilities from each affected city and the county to the unified local government;
(e) A procedure for the orderly transition to the unified local government of the services, functions, and responsibilities of any special district that will be eliminated;
(f) A procedure for the orderly transition to the unified local government of the services, functions, and responsibilities of any board, commission, or authority that will be eliminated;
(g) The procedures by which the unification plan may be amended by the subsequently created unified local government;
(h) The procedures by which the unification plan may be amended by the participating county and city or cities as a result of contingencies arising from the failure of certain jurisdictions to vote in favor of joining the unification plan. The contingency plan shall be adopted by the participating county and city or cities by joint ordinance. The contingency plan shall be adopted by the participating county and city or cities within sixty (60) days of the certification of the election result. The contingency plan shall only address:
1. Issues of revenue;
2. Issues of indebtedness;
3. Issues of service provision, service areas, or service area boundaries;
4. Personnel or administration, but may not infringe upon any pre-existing collective bargaining agreements in force in participating jurisdictions; and
5. Any issues directly related to the cost of government or provision of services within the unification plan.
The contingency plan shall not address issues within the plan related to paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of this subsection; and
(i) The procedures by which the unified local government may be dissolved. The procedures drafted shall include but are not limited to:
1. Requirements for a public petition for the dissolution of the unified local government;
2. The question to be presented to voters for the dissolution of the unified local government; and
3. Any administrative measures necessary to settle tax and debt issues created by the dissolution of the unified local government.
The proposed unification plan shall specify that no petition for the dissolution of the unified local government shall be valid until a period of five (5) years has passed from commencement of the first terms of the duly elected officers of the unified local government; and
(j) Such other provisions as the commission shall determine.
(2) The unification review commission may propose a unification plan under which the county and one (1) or more participating cities unite to form a single unit of local government.
(3) The unification plan shall be completed within two (2) years of the commission’s appointment. If a majority of the commission members are unable to agree on a plan for unification within the two (2) year period, the unification review commission shall be dissolved by operation of law.
Effective: January 1, 2013
History: Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 7, effective January 1, 2013. — Created
2006 Ky. Acts ch. 246, sec. 6, effective July 12, 2006.