Powers and duties generally

80-301. Powers and duties generally. The township trustee shall have the power to: (a) Divide the township into road districts, and make such alterations as may be necessary; (b) ensure all moneys belonging to the township are properly spent for road or other purposes; (c) provide for the care and management of all property, real and personal, belonging to the township, and to superintend the various interests thereof; (d) cause a record to be made accurately defining the boundaries and number of each road district, as well as the alterations made in such district or districts in the township; (e) administer all oaths in the necessary discharge of the duties of the office; (f) superintend all the financial concerns of the township, and at the July session of the board of county commissioners, annually, with the advice and concurrence of the board of county commissioners shall levy a tax on the property in the township for township road and other purposes, and report the same to the county clerk, who shall enter the same on the proper tax roll in a separate column or columns, and the treasurer shall collect the same as other taxes are collected. If the trustee and board of county commissioners fail to agree on any such levy, the board of county commissioners shall levy such township road and other taxes; and (g) discharge such other duties as may be imposed by law. History: G.S. 1868, ch. 110, § 22; L. 1885, ch. 194, § 1; R.S. 1923, 80-301; L. 1968, ch. 406, § 140; L. 1994, ch. 232, § 2; July 1. Cross References to Related Sections: Intermittent closing of township roads subject to inundation by flood waters retained by watershed structures, see 24-1235. Attorney General's Opinions: Township board; auditing board. 81-141. Township trustee; powers and duties generally; roads and bridges. 86-47. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Officers may contract for bridge costing more than $200; presumptions. Valley Township v. Bridge Mfg. Co., 4 Kan. App. 622, 45 P. 660. 2. Township board may build bridges on township line. Elmendaro Township v. Bridge Co., 6 Kan. App. 640, 49 P. 784. 3. Township board has power to make contract to build bridge. Uhl v. Township of Douglas, 27 Kan. 80. 4. Power to levy road tax; statute cited. Kan. C. Ft. S. & G. Rld. Co. v. Tontz, Treas., 29 Kan. 460, 462; M. & M. Rly. Co. v. Champlin, Treas., 37 Kan. 682, 683, 16 P. 222. 5. Township engaged in improving highway acts as agency of state; township not liable for personal injuries as to employee. Fisher v. Township, 87 Kan. 674, 125 P. 94. 6. Effect of stipulation entered into in proceedings against township considered. Fisher v. Odell Township, 87 Kan. 687, 125 P. 61. 7. Duty to divide county into road districts considered. Shane v. City of Hutchinson, 88 Kan. 188, 127 P. 606. 8. Duty with respect to drainage of roads considered. Marts v. Freeman, 91 Kan. 106, 111, 136 P. 943. 9. Township authorized to levy taxes to pay judgment for damages. Super v. Modell Township, 92 Kan. 979, 146 P. 993; 94 Kan. 402, 146 P. 993. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026