Gov. Kelly shares annual budget; focusing on funding education, health care

TOPEKA (KSNT) - After Governor Laura Kelly's speech to Kansans and lawmakers on Wednesday night, she announced her annual budget Thursday.

Kelly announced her annual budget on Jan. 16 after addressing her top priorities at the annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Kelly mentioned one of her main goals was fully funding public schools in Kansas.

In a news release from Kelly's office, there are 12 concepts the governor is focused on funding this year.

“I’m a fiscal conservative, which is why, once again, I’m proposing a budget that’s balanced, maintains fiscal stability in the future, and ensures Kansans have access to the services their government has promised them,” Kelly said. “This budget also delivers on my commitment to continue fully funding schools, investing in our workforce and child care system, and securing water resources both immediately and in the future.”  

Below is a list of Kelly's top budgetary items listed in the news release:

• Continue investments in early childhood care and education: Kelly's budget offers about $13.4 million to expand child care slots and build child care workforce capacity; including more than $11 million to increase child care through different state grant programs.
• Provide free school meals to qualifying children: Kelly's budget eliminates co-payments for students on reduced lunch; providing free school meals to more than 35,000 Kansas students.
• Fully fund public K-12 schools in Kansas: For the seventh year in a row, Kelly's budget will fully fund public schools, including $72.6 million in Special Education State Aid.
• The budget aims to prioritize water: Kelly's budget is increasing annual water funding by $30 million, pushing the budget to almost $90 million for water infrastructure in small towns.
• Expanding Medicaid for 150,000 Kansans: the governor's budget brings more than $1 billion in tax dollars back into the Sunflower State, providing access to affordable health care for 150,000 more Kansans and cut health care costs for everyone else.
• Make investments in higher education: Kelly's annual budget invests almost $50 million in additional funds to support the postsecondary sector and lower higher education costs for Kansas students, including $14.4 million in additional state funding to increase need-based aid.
• Continue repairing the foster care system: The budget includes $9 million dedicated to the Kansas Department of Children and Families to supplement the loss of funds incurred due to Executive Order 25-01.
• Supports health care services in hospitals: The budget will include $2 million towards capacity building funds to make sure hospitals and other healthcare facilities are safe and compliant for consumers.
• Offers funding for agriculture and natural resources: Kelly's budget includes a $1 million investment in the Center for Sorghum Improvement to sustain a 10-year research collaborative to promote growth of water-saving sorghum crops in Kansas.
• Provide support for disability and employment services: The budget has funding for Home and Community Based Services Capacity Building, including $20 million for grants.
• Improve public safety: This annual budget includes critical investments into Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and funding the Kansas Department of Corrections.
• Invest in economic development and tourism: Kelly's budget invests in economic development across the Sunflower State, and its ability to recruit international business.

Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, shared his party's goals going into this year's legislative session. Those priorities include property tax relief and reform, expand access to affordable healthcare with less government regulation, work to reduce the number of abortions in the Sunflower State and not allow “extreme trans agenda to impact” kids in Kansas.

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