Montgomery County Issue 19 — City of Kettering: Charter Amendment

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Kettering voters

What it does
The City of Kettering proposes amending the following Kettering City Charter Sections: Article V, Section 5-2: The Manager and Article VI, Section 6-2: Department Directors to remove employee residency requirements. Shall the proposed charter amendments, as reported by the charter commission of the City of Kettering be adopted?
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

Official text: source

Background

Kettering's Charter requires the Mayor to appoint a Charter Review Committee at least once every ten years; according to the city, Mayor Suddith appointed 11 residents to the 2026 committee, which submitted its recommendations to Council on May 26, 2026.

According to the committee's written recommendation, Ohio Revised Code Section 9.481 says no political subdivision may require its employees to live in a specific area as a condition of employment, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld that law in Lima v. State, and so Charter Sections 5-2 and 6-2 are unenforceable under Ohio law and should be removed.

The amendment would delete the Charter language requiring the City Manager to live in Kettering during their tenure unless Council provides otherwise, and the language requiring department and division heads to become Kettering residents within a reasonable time after appointment.

City Council accepted the recommendations by Resolution 11493-26 on May 26, 2026, and on June 23, 2026, passed Ordinance 4455-26 placing them on the ballot as separate questions; the ordinance states it was passed with at least two-thirds of Council members concurring.

Put on the ballot by Kettering City Council on the recommendation of the 2026 Charter Review Committee, June 23, 2026 (Ordinance 4455-26).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4.

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Quick answers

How many votes does Montgomery County Issue 19 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Montgomery County Issue 19?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Montgomery County ballot.

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