(1) Sufficient copies of a petition proposing alterations to an existing form of local government must be made available to the public for inspection at convenient locations and at reasonable hours to provide all interested persons an opportunity to review the recommendations and documents. The copies must be available no later than 30 days prior to an election on the recommendations if such an election is to be held. The local government may distribute copies of a petition to the electors or residents of the local government.
(2) The cost of preparing the copies needed to meet the requirements of this section shall be borne by the affected local government.