COLUMBUS — Township trustees often run local government operations that are as big — or bigger — than cities, complete with road crews, police and fire departments, and parks and buildings. Yet, the same trustees aren’t required to file annual financial disclosure statements that are mandated of nearly every other elected official in the state.

State Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, who served on the Ohio Ethics Commission a decade ago, aims to change that.

Lehner introduced a bill to require township trustees and fiscal officers to file annual ethics statements if the township population is more than 5,000. In cities with more than 5,000 residents, officials must file disclosure statements.

“It’s an issue of transparency in government. It’s something that the public expects,” Lehner said.

Lehner said she sees no logic in exempting township officials from the disclosure requirement, particularly since townships are bigger than cities these days.

In most townships in Clark County, local township officials were not aware of the legislation. But Robert Mounts, a trustee in Moorefield Twp., said while he wasn’t aware of the details, he would have little objection to the proposed rules. “I don’t see why it would be a problem,” Mounts said.

As public officials, Mounts said he believes township officials should be willing to sumbit to the same public records laws as other municipalities.

Tim Foley, a township trustee in Springfield Twp., said he was not aware of the legislation and could not discuss it until he knew more of the details involved.

Dan Corey, trustee of Deerfield Twp in Warren County, said, “The townships have grown up to a level to be at the same caliber as city council member or a small county commission member.”

Corey, who is in his second term, said he has no problem with adding trustees to the disclosure requirement and he would consider it part of the duties of public service.

Deborah Preston, trustee of Miami Twp in Montgomery County, agreed. “I am for everybody disclosing to the Ethics Commission and I don’t have a problem with it at all.”

Her colleague, Mike Nolan, however, thinks if disclosure is required of township officials, there shouldn’t be a population threshold. Instead, trustees and fiscal officers for all 1,300 townships should have to report. Otherwise, trustees that represent 4,999 residents would not report while those that represent 5,000 would.

“To me, it just seems weird to say, you’re exempt by one person,” he said.

About 180 townships in Ohio have 5,000 or more residents. Of those, about 65 have 15,000 or more residents.

The ethics statement, due April 15 each year, publicly discloses family members, business interests, sources of income and gifts, debtors, creditors and other information. That information can be cross checked against votes the official takes or financial stakes he or she may have in businesses seeking contracts with the jurisdiction.

Filing fees range from $35 to $95, depending on the office held.

Ohio Ethics Commission Executive Director Paul Nick said transparency and abstentions when there are potential conflitcts of interest are two key elements to state ethics law. The Ethics Commission will testify in support of Lehner’s bill, he said.

Townships already are subject to state ethics law – just not the disclosure requirement. Nick said 20 percent of the Ethics Commission education, advisory and investigative resources are spent on township officials.

“It certainly would be helpful to have access to records, data, sources of income, sources of gifts,” Nick said.

Beavercreek Twp Trustee Carol Graff in Greene County, who has been serving in local government positions since 1978, said, “I have no problem with it. I filed it when I was on (Beavercreek) city council. It was another piece of paper. I have nothing to hide.”