Chapter 14 – Counties, Cities, Villages & Townships
14.5 Services Provided by Cities, Villages & Townships
In Ohio, cities, villages, and townships each provide various services to their residents, reflecting their size and resources.
As larger municipalities, cities offer a comprehensive range of services. These include full-time police and fire departments, emergency medical services, and advanced public health facilities. Cities manage local infrastructure, including road construction and maintenance. Public works departments are responsible for the construction, maintenance, and management of the city’s infrastructure and public facilities, including roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, public buildings, and parks.
Many cities also offer extensive water, sewer, and public utility services, as well as a wide array of recreational facilities, parks, libraries, and community centers. Economic development initiatives and zoning regulations help manage urban growth and attract businesses.
Land use planning is related term. It is the process of regulating the use of land to determine who can do what with specific spaces in a locality. It involves deciding what spaces are used for housing, industry, agriculture, recreation, and conservation.
Cities may also provide specialized services like public housing programs, senior services, and arts and cultural programs to support diverse community needs.
Villages, being smaller than cities, offer similar services but on a reduced scale. They typically maintain local roads, provide basic police and fire protection, and manage water and sewer services. Villages often focus on maintaining parks and recreational facilities and may operate small libraries and community centers. They handle zoning and land use planning but usually do not have the extensive economic development programs seen in cities. The scope of services in villages is designed to meet the needs of smaller populations while ensuring a high quality of life for residents.
Townships provide essential services, particularly in rural and less densely populated areas. Their primary responsibilities include road maintenance, zoning, and land use regulation. Townships often rely on county or regional services for law enforcement and may establish volunteer fire departments or contract with nearby municipalities for fire and emergency medical services. They manage local waste collection, cemeteries, and parks. Due to their smaller budgets and resources, townships focus on providing basic services and maintaining local infrastructure, ensuring that residents have access to necessary amenities without the breadth of services offered by larger municipalities.
Below is a list of common public goods and services that city, village, and township governments provide:
- Law Enforcement – City police departments, village police forces, and township constables enforce laws, maintain public order, and respond to emergencies to ensure community safety.
- Fire Protection – Fire departments in cities, villages, and townships provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, and rescue operations to protect lives and property.
- Public Works – Public works departments manage the construction, maintenance, and repair of local infrastructure such as roads, bridges, sidewalks, and public buildings.
- Water and Sewer Services – These services ensure the provision of clean drinking water and the proper disposal and treatment of wastewater to maintain public health and environmental quality.
- Trash and Recycling Collection – Municipalities often handle the regular collection and proper disposal of household trash and recyclables to keep communities clean and reduce waste.
- Parks and Recreation – Local governments maintain parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities, offering green spaces and activities for residents to enjoy.
- Zoning and Planning – Zoning and planning departments regulate land use, oversee building permits, and plan for the community’s future development to ensure orderly growth and maintain property values.
This range of services provided by city, village, and township governments ensures that residents across Ohio have access to essential public goods and services. By tailoring their offerings to the specific needs and resources of their communities, these local governments help maintain the basic infrastructure and public safety required for daily life.
References
Bethel, Alyssa. 2015. Overview of Ohio Local Government. Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Columbus, OH.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2024. Census of Governments’ Individual State Descriptions. Washington, DC.
