§7A-3-1. Initiating consolidation.

(a) Consolidation may be initiated by:

(1) A petition signed by at least twenty-five percent of the qualified voters of each affected municipality for a municipal consolidation, each affected county for a county consolidation or each affected principal city and of the entire county excluding the principal city for a metro consolidation; or

(2) A resolution by the governing body of each affected municipality for a municipal consolidation, each affected county for a county consolidation or each affected principal city and county for a metro consolidation.

(b) The petition or resolution shall be submitted to the county commission of the affected county for all types of consolidation.

(c) Upon receipt, the county commission shall, within thirty days, verify the petition or resolution and either oversee the establishment of a charter review committee as provided in this chapter or reject the petition or resolution for insufficiency.

(d) If the county commission rejects the petition or resolution, the rejection shall be in writing stating how the insufficiency may be corrected and that the petition or resolution may be resubmitted within ninety days.