A commission established pursuant to this Article may be charged with any of the following purposes:
(1) To study the powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, and organizational structures of the counties or cities that established the commission and of other units of local government and public agencies within those counties or cities;
(2) To prepare a report on its studies and findings;
(3) To prepare a plan for consolidating one or more functions and services of the governments that established the commission;
(4) To prepare drafts of any agreements or legislation necessary to effect the consolidation of one or more functions and services;
(5) To prepare a plan for consolidating into a single government some or all of the governments that established the commission;
(6) To prepare drafts of any legislation necessary to effect the plan of governmental consolidation;
(7) To call a referendum, as provided in G.S. 153A-405, on the plan of governmental consolidation.