Canton, Ohio has turned down Charter City government at least 8 times in the past 102 years.
Canal Fulton, mentioned in the same article, is a Charter City. They have saved a lot of money by eliminating personnel: they have fewer Council members, no Safety Service Director, and combined their Treasurer and Auditor into one Finance Director position.
Mount Vernon City Council members have suggested eliminating personnel under a Charter would save Mount Vernon money. Canal Fulton has a population of 5,479. Mount Vernon has a population of 16,620. Can we afford to operate our city like Canal Fulton?