Kansas Attorney General Opinion 2018-12: Townships derive their powers from the legislature. A township may not exercise a power not granted by the legislature.

As the township officers for Silver Lake Township, you ask our opinion on a matter related to the powers of townships. Specifically, you ask whether a township may solicit and receive donations. For the reasons discussed below, we conclude the answer to your question is “no.” The legislature granted townships the power to: sue and be sued; purchase and hold real and personal property; sell, convey and dispose of real and personal property; and “make all contracts that may be necessary and convenient.” The legislature has not granted townships the power to accept gifts and donations generally.

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