(1) The merger of one or more municipalities or counties with special districts, or the merger of two or more special districts, may be adopted by passage of a concurrent ordinance or, in the case of special districts, resolution by the governing bodies of each unit to be affected.

(2)

(a) Initiation of procedures for merger of special districts as described in subsection (1) may be done either by adoption of a resolution by the governing body of an area to be affected or by a petition of 10 percent of the qualified voters in the area.

(b) If a petition has been filed with the governing bodies concerned, the governing bodies shall immediately undertake a study of the feasibility of the merger proposal and shall, within 6 months, either adopt a resolution under subsection (1) or reject the petition, specifically stating the facts upon which the rejection is based.

(c) A copy of the proposed charter or merger agreement shall be filed within 30 days after the effective date of the merger with the Special District Information Program and each local general-purpose government within which the district is located.

(d) The purpose of this subsection is to provide broad citizen involvement in both initiating and developing special districts; therefore, establishment of appropriate citizen advisory committees, as well as other mechanisms for citizen involvement, by the governing bodies of the units affected is specifically authorized and encouraged.