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Township official outlines new capital-improvement plan requirement, recommends Economy sign memorandum to receive roads funds
Summary
A township presenter told the Economy town meeting that a new state law requires a capital-improvement plan and a roads and infrastructure fund; he recommended Perry Township enter an MOU naming the Town of Economy to receive and administer the funds, and said the township board will vote on the MOU tomorrow.
A township presenter identified as Dan told the Economy meeting on Sept. 10, 2025, that a recent state law requires every township to adopt a capital-improvement plan and to establish a roads and infrastructure fund to receive a required transfer of local unrestricted dollars.
Dan said the state supplied an Excel template that ‘‘has pre-built formulas’’ to project proposed expenditures and the resulting year-end balances, and that about 30% of leftover unrestricted funds must be transferred into the roads and infrastructure fund. ‘‘It’s projected that for next year at the end of 2026 it’s going to be like around $1,500,’’ he said, adding that the amount ‘‘doesn’t go a long way’’ for resurfacing or major patching.
Why it matters: the transfer will change how Perry Township accounts for certain unrestricted dollars and requires the township to name an entity to hold and administer the roads funds. Dan said the township must enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) naming either a town or the county as the recipient; he recommended nominating the Town of Economy so the funds could be used for projects that benefit township property within or adjacent to town limits, such as sidewalk replacement at the gymnasium, playground equipment relocation, or fencing.
Dan described practical details and timing. The township will establish the roads and infrastructure fund at its next meeting; monies, he said, ‘‘can sit there and accumulate’’ and do not have to be spent immediately. He told the meeting the first money would not be available until late 2026 (he cited Dec. 31, 2026, as the technical date when the accounting takes effect). He also said the MOU would be voted on by the township board at its meeting the following day and that a town representative’s signature could be obtained for the document.
Board members and attendees asked how strictly the funds must be spent within township limits and whether the town would be the ‘‘bank’’ or the spender; Dan replied that the funds must be used for projects that meet the capital-improvement purpose and that the town is within the township so the town could be asked to prioritize projects that benefit township property. He noted the projected transfer amount is small and that pairing the funds with grants (for example the Community Crossing grant) is one likely approach.
Next steps: Perry Township’s trustees are scheduled to vote on the MOU at their meeting tomorrow; if the trustees approve, the town will be asked to accept the role in the memorandum and the township will begin using the state template to show planned projects and projected transfers. The clerk also reminded the group that the Community Crossing grant application deadline is Oct. 1 and that the board expects to hold its 2026 budget hearing next week.
No formal vote on the MOU occurred during the Economy meeting; Dan said the township board will take the formal action at its meeting. The town meeting discussion focused on practical implications, not on a final commitment to any particular project.
