Sec. 16. (a) This section does not apply to a township that is a distressed political subdivision under IC 6-1.1-20.3.

(b) As used in this section, "township fund" does not include a debt service fund of a township.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a township legislative body, in a public meeting, may authorize a one (1) time transfer of any excess balance or part of an excess balance from any township fund to any other township fund. A township legislative body may transfer excess balances from multiple township funds; however, all transfers must be authorized by the township legislative body at one (1) time. Subject to subsection (d), a township must complete all transfers that are authorized by this section not later than September 1, 2020. Any money transferred under this section may be used for any lawful purpose for which money in the fund to which the balance is transferred may be used.

(d) If IC 36-6-9 applies to the township, the township must adopt the township capital improvement plan before the township may complete a transfer of money under this section.

(e) A township may not spend any money that is transferred until the expenditure of the money has been included in a budget that has been approved by the department of local government finance under IC 6-1.1-17. For purposes of fixing its budget and for purposes of the ad valorem property tax levy limits imposed under IC 6-1.1-18.5, the township shall treat the money transferred under this section that the department of local government finance permits it to spend during a particular calendar year as part of its ad valorem property tax levy for that same calendar year.

(f) This section expires January 1, 2021.

As added by P.L.129-2019, SEC.3.