COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A divided Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that city governments may not require employees to live within city limits, and the city of Dayton says they will comply.

The court ruled 5-2 Wednesday that a 2006 state law preventing local government residency requirements overrides the home rule powers of municipalities.

Attorneys for Akron, Lima and Cleveland had argued in January oral arguments that the residency requirements help their tax base, maximize emergency services and make their workers more responsive to local concerns. Unions representing employees sided with the state law.

A number of issues arisen in Dayton over the years regarding the residency requirements, but that will no longer be an issue. City employees argued that residency requirements discriminate against employees who may not be able to live within a city before of personal reasons, such as family constraints.

Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin and City Manager Rashad Young held a press conference Wednesday after the announcement. Both McLin and Young said the city will comply with the ruling, despite disagreeing with the decision.

About 130 Ohio cities and villages have some form of residency requirement.