BRAC-ing Ohio's Local Governments

Vol. III, No. 203 - A response to House Bill 520

As a kid, I had a paper route. And as any good salesman, I tried to know my product better than anyone; I would read the paper everyday. In my youth, I remember one thing that always caught headlines in those newspapers I would devlier, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Given our close location to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the commission’s work had a real impact on this part of Ohio.

When the federal government created the Commission—better known as BRAC—it faced a major challenge. The U.S. military had too many bases, many of them built decades earlier when threats and strategies were different. Keeping all of them open was expensive and inefficient, but closing any one of them brought intense political pressure. Every community with a military base fought to keep it open because jobs and local pride were at stake. Members of Congress often joined that fight, determined to protect their constituents.

At first, BRAC met fierce resistance. Politicians warned that closing bases would weaken national security. Local leaders feared economic loss. Yet everyone knew that the military could no longer afford to spend billions maintaining facilities that no longer fit modern needs. Something had to change.

What made BRAC successful was its structure. Instead of letting politics decide which bases to close, the commission built a process focused on fairness, evidence, and the long-term health of the nation. An independent panel of experts reviewed data, military strategy, and costs. It developed a single package of recommendations that Congress had to approve or reject as a whole—no cherry-picking to save one base or another. That structure took some political heat out of the process and made it possible to do what was right rather than what was easy. Over time, BRAC’s work saved taxpayers billions and made the armed forces more agile and modern.

Ohio now faces a similar challenge, though on a different battlefield. Our state is burdened by too many layers of local government. With more than 600 school districts, over 1,300 townships, and hundreds of cities, villages, and agencies, Ohio ranks among the highest in the nation for government units. Many of these were created long ago when travel was slower and small, self-sufficient communities were vital. But times have changed. Populations have shifted, technology has improved, and our current structure no longer fits modern life.

Some school districts serve a few hundred students while others teach tens of thousands. Some townships manage tiny neighborhoods; others stretch for miles across rural and suburban areas. Each one maintains its own administration, payroll, offices, and systems. This duplication consumes resources that could otherwise support classrooms, roads, and safety services. In trying to preserve local control, Ohio has built a system that too often divides effort and drains energy.

To move forward, Ohio can learn from BRAC’s example and create a Local Government Realignment and Modernization Commission. Like the federal model, this commission would operate independently, study hard facts, and focus on what works best for all citizens. Its mission would not be to take away local identity or pride, but to make local government more effective, connected, and affordable.

And while, this publication looked at proposals like the ideas brought forward in House Bill 520 that have recently been introduced, the legislation still heavily relies on politicians to make the decision about political jurisdictions; elected officials, no matter what the office, are loathe to look at their own nest as a source of unnecessary bureaucratic waste. The decisions that are being asked to made in House Bill 520 need strong citizen feedback, which was at the core of the BRAC process. Those on the BRAC Commission weren’t senators or representatives or governors, they were citizens.

Change will not come easily. Just as BRAC faced intense pressure to keep every base open, Ohio will face pressure to protect every township, district, or agency exactly as it stands today. But refusing to change only locks us into inefficiency. The courage to realign government—to merge services, share resources, and modernize leadership—is what will keep our communities strong.

Ohio’s version of BRAC could turn local governments into partners instead of rivals, reduce overlapping costs, and direct more money to where it matters most: education, safety, and quality of life. By streamlining systems, residents would know more clearly who represents them and where their tax dollars go. Simpler government is not only cheaper—it’s fairer, more transparent, and easier for people to trust.

The federal BRAC process proved that reform is possible, even when politics push back. Ohio can do the same. With a fair, fact-based plan and the will to see it through, our state can build a more responsive system of government that works better for everyone. Just as BRAC strengthened the nation’s defense, Ohio’s own version could strengthen the foundation of our democracy—one community at a time.

A New Handbook to grow Civic Capacity!

Recently, we created a new digital handbook, “The Citizen’s Guide to Public Records”. This handbook is designed to help residents have a better understanding of public meetings and meeting records. It’s filled with templates, ideas and other information that will open a new world of public affairs.

Also, if you have ideas for future handbooks, please let us know at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com.

Want to Learn More About Troy’s Businesses?

Our publication has recently released our September 2025 Economic Abstract, the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on the businesses and industries in the City of Troy. For those that want to understand our community’s business and industries, this is a must-have report.

Thank you to our New Media Partners!

Recently, many of our stories has been showing up on the local news website, www.mymiamicounty.com. We are grateful for the good folks for sharing our work with their audience and we would encourage our readers to check them out at their website!

Our publication would also like to recognize the good work being done at www.piquanewsnow.com. Piqua News Now is a new web-based news and information site for the Miami County area, with a specific focus on Piqua!

In addition, the good folks at Piqua News Now have started a new, 24-hour streaming YouTube channel. This channel is awesome with continuous weather updates and more importanly, it provides a 24-hour audio feed from county wide dispatch. Check it out here!

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