# Title 40 — Municipal Government

## Chapter 40-53.2 — Consolidation of Cities

### § 40-53.2-01. Legislative intent on city consolidation.

The legislative assembly recognizes that a viable government capable of providing essential
services is necessary to the general welfare of the citizens of every city in this state. The
legislative assembly further recognizes that some cities have become and will continue to
become incapable of providing adequate services to their citizens and that a process is
necessary to allow these dysfunctional cities to consolidate with other nearby cities in order to
better serve the people of this state.
### § 40-53.2-02. Consolidation - Resolution or petition - Election.

The governing body of any city may, by resolution, or shall, upon petition by ten percent of
the number of qualified electors of the city who voted for governor at the last general election at
which a governor was elected, place on the ballot at the next general election to be held in that
city the following question:
Shall the city governing body appoint a committee from its membership to meet with
members of the governing board of the city of __________, as a municipal consolidation
review commission, to draft a proposal for consolidating the city of ___________ with the
city of __________?
### § 40-53.2-03. Municipal consolidation review commission.

Upon passage by a simple majority of the votes cast on the question in each of the cities
seeking consolidation in the manner provided by section 40-53.2-02, the governing body of
each of the cities seeking consolidation shall appoint an equal number of the members of each
governing body who shall convene as the municipal consolidation review commission to make a
finding as to whether or not there is sufficient reason to further consider consolidation of the
cities seeking consolidation. If the commission finds insufficient reason, no further consideration
shall be given to the matter of consolidation of the cities. If the commission finds sufficient
reason for consolidation, it shall develop a recommended plan of consolidation, holding such
hearings on the plan as it deems appropriate. The commission shall submit its recommended
plan to the voters of both cities. Upon receiving a majority affirmative vote of the electors of
each city, voting on the question at a special election or any regular election, the review
commission's recommended plan shall become effective on July first of the next year.
