Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, April 1, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close U.S. 59 to traffic three miles north of Moran, from Rhode Island Road to South Dakota Road. During the closure a wind tower crane will be moved across the highway.
There is no signed detour for the closure. U.S. 59 traffic should use alternate routes.
Julie Lorenz was confirmed by the Senate today as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Lorenz was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly in January 2019. In her capacity as Secretary of KDOT, Lorenz also serves as the Director of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
“Secretary Lorenz is an expert in the area of transportation and understands just how critical it is to the future of our economy and our state,” Gov. Kelly said. “She has been a state and national leader in transportation for two decades and Kansas is lucky to have her leading KDOT.”
“I am honored to serve as the Secretary of Transportation,” Lorenz said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with communities and constituencies across our state to develop a supportable vision for transportation, complete T-WORKS and craft the next transportation plan for long-term, sustainable success for all Kansans.”
This is Lorenz’s second tour of duty for KDOT, serving as the Director of Public Affairs and Special Assistant from 2003 to 2011. During that time, she led the development of several efforts at the agency, including the development and eventual legislative passage of the $8.2 billion, 10-year T-WORKS funding program in spring 2010.
Fiscal responsibility critical to rebuilding Kansas
The following column is by Governor Laura Kelly:
Just two short years ago, the State of Kansas found itself on the brink of financial disaster. Even after depleting state savings and enduring multiple rounds of devastating budget cuts, unsustainable tax policy continued to perpetuate fiscal crisis. We saw schools close and class sizes grow. We saw an overwhelmed child welfare system let children fall through the cracks. And despite promises of immediate prosperity, Kansas routinely ranked among the nation’s worst in multiple economic indicators.
As the budget hole continued to grow, the legislature passed two sales tax increases, swept more than $2 billion from the state highway fund, delayed numerous payments to the state pension system, accumulated historic levels of debt, and raided every critical investment from early childhood education to public safety. But in the end, none of these short-term band aids could stem the bleeding caused by the reckless Brownback tax experiment. In November of 2016, Kansans called for change.
The very next year, the state hit “reset” in a historic act of bipartisanship with the passage of comprehensive tax reform. Our credit score improved within a week. The number of Kansans participating in the labor force increased for the first time since 2014.
We have only just started the rebuilding process. Our recovery is uncertain; our budget is fragile. The State of Kansas cannot afford to make a U-turn now.
Senate Bill 22 – another reckless tax plan – would absolutely dismantle all the progress we’ve made. It would throw our state once again into a self-inflicted budget crisis, diminishing all the investments we’ve worked so hard to rebuild and restore. It would put our future at risk once again in order to give significant tax breaks to entities who need them the least, while continuing to leave working families behind.
I share Kansas lawmakers’ desire to keep the state tax burden as low as possible and that will continue to be a priority. In January, I presented a structurally balanced budget that funded our schools and roads, reduced state debt, left Kansas with the largest ending balance in 20 years and did so all without a tax increase.
I was a math major. This is about basic math. My budget proposal left a healthy, fiscally responsible ending balance. If I had signed Senate Bill 22, the budget that just passed the Senate would fall to more than $600 million in the hole within two years.
That is unacceptable. That is irresponsible.
We must be patient, thoughtful, and prudent as we evaluate tax policy. And, when we move forward with sustainable, commonsense tax relief, we must ensure that it benefits the Kansans who need it the most. We will focus on reducing the sales tax on food and providing real tax relief to working families.
The people of Kansas elected me to rebuild our state. They elected me to bring fiscally conservative and responsible principles back to our government. And I refuse to endorse another round of fiscally reckless policies – similar to the Brownback tax experiment – that left our state in shambles and our families struggling.
I commit to you – the people of Kansas – that I will stabilize our state’s budget, invest in our shared priorities, and continue the recovery we have all fought so hard to begin. By following through on this commitment, our state has every reason to expect a bright and successful future.
Data from the 2018 growing season on the KWO website
Technology and management tools keep evolving to help crop producers make every drop of water count on their fields. Water Technology Farms were developed four years ago as part of the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. They began as three-year pilot public-private partnerships to demonstrate the latest in crop irrigation technology and water conservation research on the field scale.
“I’m pleased to see the growing interest in Water Technology Farms across the state,” said Kansas Water Office Acting Director Earl Lewis. “We continue to see outcomes from these farms showing that water use reductions, coupled with irrigation technology adoption and water management improvements are leading to positive effects on the aquifer as well as the producer’s bottom line.”
Water Technology Farms have proven valuable in helping to expand the conversation and education of producers as well as decision makers on equipment and technology utilized in agricultural water conservation efforts.
“As one of the first three Tech Farms we have learned so much as far as water conservation production and how what we do affects the Ogallala Aquifer,” Dwane Roth, Garden City Company/Dwane Roth Farm near Holcomb, KS. “A fifth generation Kansan recently said to me that western Kansas is different compared to other parts of the world – our water problems are solvable! I now ask with what we know, do we become resilient? And in doing so have vibrant local communities or do we become just another page in the history books? I say we become resilient.”
The 2018 Growing Season Report shares information about each of the 10 farms including the crop or crops grown, technology utilized to manage water application, as well as harvest data and sponsors of each location.
“My goal as a first year Water Technology Farm was to increase the bushels per inch of irrigation we produced,” said Matt Long of Long Water Technology Farm near Marienthal, KS. “We really pushed our crop using different application technologies, soil moisture probes and a weather station to utilize our irrigation water efficiently which resulted in growing 34 bushels per inch of irrigation. As we start this spring with adequate profile moisture and more knowledge about the application technologies and soil probes, I am excited to see how much more progress we can achieve.”
It is anticipated up to five new farms will be added to the network in 2019, bringing the total number of Water Technology Farms up to 15 for the 2019 growing season. Field days and other informational events in conjunction with the Water Technology Farm Program will take place later this summer. For more information and the complete 2018 Growing Season Report, visit www.kwo.ks.gov
The Water Technology Farms would not be possible without key public-private partnerships. More than 80 companies and organizations support this effort and sponsors for each farm are on the Water Tech Farm pages on the KWO website.
For more information visit: www.kwo.ks.gov or contact Armando Zarco, Water Resource Planner at (620) 276-2901.
Make a difference in your community and help the environment at the same time – join the Adopt-A-Highway program in Kansas.
The goal of the program is to clean along the roadways throughout the state to increase safety for motorists and pedestrians as well as improve the beauty of Kansas. This helps to raise awareness on the negative effects of pollution and the positive aspects of a clean community.
Any non-profit group that does not discriminate upon the basis of race, religion or gender can join and there is no cost to the group. Members must be at least 11 years old and have adequate adult supervision. Groups have clean-ups three times a year and are recognized for their efforts with signs marking their sections of highway.
Adopt-A-Highway groups are gearing up for the annual Clean Up Kansas Campaign which takes place during the month of April. This event, as well as the program, is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Transportation. All Adopt-A-Highway groups are encouraged but not required to participate in the statewide event.
Groups clean their sections of roadway three times a year at their convenience. Most choose to schedule a clean-up time in the spring, summer and fall.
For more information, contact the KDOT office in your area (listed below). Ask for the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator in the KDOT office located closest to you.
Northeast Kansas
Topeka, (785) 296-2291
Kansas City Area –
Bonner Springs, (913) 942-3040
Olathe, (913) 764-0987
Salina, (785) 823-3754
Norton, (785) 877-3315
Chanute, (620) 902-6400
Hutchinson, (620) 663-3361
Garden City, (620) 765-7074
Governor Laura Kelly refuses to endorse another tax experiment, vetoes Senate Bill 22
The following message is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding the veto of Senate Bill 22:
Just two short years ago, the State of Kansas found itself on the brink of financial disaster. Even after depleting state savings and enduring multiple rounds of devastating budget cuts, unsustainable tax policy continued to perpetuate fiscal crisis. We saw schools close and class sizes grow. We saw an overwhelmed child welfare system let children fall through the cracks. And despite promises of immediate prosperity, Kansas routinely ranked among the nation’s worst in multiple economic indicators.
As the budget hole continued to grow, the legislature passed two sales tax increases, swept more than $2 billion from the state highway fund, delayed numerous payments to the state pension system, accumulated historic levels of debt, and raided every critical investment from early childhood education to public safety. But in the end, none of these short-term band aids could stem the bleeding caused by reckless tax policy. In November of 2016, Kansans called for change.
The very next year, the state hit “reset” in a historic act of bipartisanship with the passage of comprehensive tax reform. Our credit score improved within a week. The number of Kansans participating in the labor force increased for the first time since 2014. And we’ve finally begun to heal from the unprecedented devastation found in state agencies and state programs.
However, we have only just started the rebuilding process. Our recovery is tenuous; our budget is fragile. The State of Kansas cannot afford to make a U-turn.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 22 would absolutely dismantle all the progress we’ve made. It would throw our state once again into a self-inflicted budget crisis, diminishing all the investments we’ve worked so hard to rebuild and restore. It would put our future at risk once again in order to give significant tax breaks to entities who need them the least, while continuing to leave working families behind.
Additionally, as noted by the Senate President during the floor debate, Senate Bill 22 will put Kansas out of compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. This would potentially cost Kansas up to $18 million in lost revenue — on top of the bill’s already unaffordable $200 million price tag in the next fiscal year.
I look forward to working with the Kansas Legislature in the future to achieve our common goal of a reduced food sales tax. However, as I explained repeatedly — both as a candidate for governor and after I took office – we cannot responsibly enact a food sales tax cut until our state’s fiscal health stabilizes. This is not the time.
I share Kansas lawmakers’ desire to keep the state tax burden as low as possible and that will continue to be my priority. In January, I presented a structurally balanced budget to the Kansas Legislature that funded our schools and roads, reduced state debt, left Kansas with the largest ending balance in 20 years, and did so all without a tax increase.
The people of Kansas elected me to rebuild our state. They elected me to bring fiscally conservative and responsible principles back to our government. We must be patient, thoughtful, and prudent as we evaluate tax policy. And, when we move forward with commonsense tax relief, we must ensure that it benefits the Kansans who need it the most.
Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 22.
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Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson
March 22, 2019
There is a spending problem in government, especially Kansas State government. The Senate passed a budget according to the Chair of Ways and Means that, “is more than the Governor asked for.” Senate Bill (SB) 75 appropriates $17.2 billion all funds and $7.1 billion of State General Funds (SGF). Since 2013, State expenditures have increased over $3 billion – a 19% increase in less than 7 years for all funds. The SGF increased $1 billion in that same time-frame – a 14% increase. This is not sustainable! SB 75 had a few good things, but not enough to justify the out-of-control spending. The vote was 21 Yes to 18 No. I voted No.
The Senate Tax Committee, which I chair, passed SB 91, an attempt to lighten the tax burden for senior citizens, disabled veterans, and Kansas taxpayers. SB 91 would freeze property taxes on a home via a tax credit for people over 65 who make less than $30,000 a year, and for disabled veterans. The bill would also increase the standard deduction for an individual to $3,500, up from $3,000. Married filing jointly would increase to $8,500. After the massive spending increases passed in the budget, cutting taxes is an attempt to reel in government growth.
Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ): SB 125 would extend the ROZ five more years to 2026. The program is a state income tax credit for people moving into an approved rural county from out of state. The bill passed Yes 29 to No 11. SB 135 would increase the number of counties in the ROZ program by eight: Atchison, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Ford, Franklin, Miami, and Pottawatomie. There are 73 counties in the program. If the bill becomes law, the entire Senate District 12 would be included in the ROZ. SB 135 passed Yes 30 to No 8. I voted Yes on both bills.
Kansas Closed Case Task Force would be established with SB 102. It creates a task force to create and implement a plan for uniform protocols for law enforcement to follow. The process does need to be identified. However, what makes legislators the experts in establishing the protocols and procedures relating to data hits in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). SB 102 would have two legislators co-chairing the task force. It’s just another layer of bureaucracy. The vote was 39 to 1. I voted No.
The Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program would be updated by House Bill (HB) 2123, removing a requirement that eligible members of the Kansas National Guard have at least one year remaining on their enlistment contract to qualify for education assistance. HB 2123 would allow Air National Guard members to participate as they can only re-enlist 90 days prior to their end of service. The bill passed the Senate unanimously.
Kansas sales tax statutes name some exemptions for specific groups, like a Rotary club in Wichita, while all other Rotary clubs in Kansas do not enjoy the same sales tax exemption. In an attempt to create a fair tax code, SB 178 sets parameters for non-profit community care organizations so that if an organization qualifies they get the sales tax exemption and do not have to go through the legislature to get their name added to the statutes. During debate on the Senate floor, an amendment was added that would require one sales tax exemption of equal or higher dollar amount to be removed when one is added. Sales tax exemptions total over $3 billion. The bill passed unanimously.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
New Technology from the Office of KS State Treasurer Jake LaTurner Speeds Up Unclaimed Property Claims for Hundreds of Kansans
Topeka—Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner launched a new statewide effort making it easier and more convenient to connect Kansans with their unclaimed property and financial assets than ever before. Hundreds of Kansans were sent letters notifying them they have property in the state treasury waiting to be claimed and giving them an easier way to do it. Instructions on the letter allow the person to claim their property simply by entering a code from the letter in to a portal on the state treasurer’s website or by using their smartphone to scan a QR code also printed in the letter.
Treasurer LaTurner wants to make sure Kansans know these letters are a legitimate method for getting back their unclaimed property, and Kansans should feel secure going through the steps in the letter to claim their money.
“This is not a scam. If you received a letter from me with a link to kansascash.ks.gov, it means we have real money that belongs to you just waiting to be claimed,” said LaTurner. “We want to make sure no one throws these letters away by accident. Simply go to our website and enter the code in the letter or scan the QR square and get your money back.”
State Treasurer LaTurner has spent his last year and a half as treasurer using technology and efficient business practices to streamline the process for returning unclaimed property, including adding direct deposit as a way to receive payment. In 2018 a record $26.5-million in unclaimed property was returned to Kansans, and the office is on track to break that record in 2019.
Even without receiving a letter, all Kansans interested in finding out whether any of the $350-million in unclaimed property belongs to them can easily search by first and last name on kansascash.ks.gov.
The Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Division of Aviation will host a webinar, “Drones in Ag: Harvesting Drone Data to Improve Performance,” on Tuesday, March 26, at 10:30 a.m.
The webinar is co-hosted by Kansas Farm Bureau and will feature two presentations – the first from Microsoft FarmBeats hardware researcher Zerina Kapetanovic detailing the FarmBeats system and the artificial intelligence challenges associated with agriculture, and the second from Kansas State University associate professor Ignacio Ciampitti on applications of UAVs in precision agriculture. It will also include a brief overview of the Kansas Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) from KDOT Director of Aviation Bob Brock.
Individuals or teams interested in participating should RSVP at www.ippkansas.org/events. Space is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Participants will receive a link to the webinar upon registration.
The Kansas UAS IPP is led by KDOT Aviation as one of 10 national leaders conducting advanced UAS operations to guide future rule-making that will result in access to new technologies for the nation. IPP will help tackle the most significant challenges to integrating drones into the national airspace and will reduce risks to public safety and security. The Kansas team is focused on efforts in Long Line Linear Infrastructure Inspection (i.e. highways, railroads, energy distribution lines, etc.) and Precision Agriculture.
Governor Laura Kelly applauds the passage of Medicaid expansion in the Kansas House
The following statement is from Governor Laura Kelly regarding the passage of Medicaid expansion by the Kansas House of Representatives:
“Today a bipartisan coalition in the Kansas House put politics aside and came together to pass Medicaid expansion. I’m proud of their work – and the work of so many advocates and citizens who worked tirelessly to make their voices heard on this issue.
“Medicaid expansion is one of the most critical issues impacting our state’s future. It will allow up to 150,000 more Kansans access to affordable healthcare, support local hospitals and clinics, and impact our economy for the better.
“Over 70 percent of Kansans support Medicaid expansion. I encourage the Kansas Senate to join me, this bipartisan coalition, business leaders and the overwhelming majority of Kansans in support of Medicaid expansion. The time for blocking progress has long since passed. Now is the time to expand Medicaid.”
Governor Kelly tours flood-affected areas with the Kansas National Guard, the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and the Kansas Water Office
Governor Laura Kelly today toured counties damaged by flooding in Kansas and Nebraska with Maj. General Lee Tafanelli from the Kansas National Guard, Deputy Director Angee Morgan from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and Acting Director Earl Lewis from the Kansas Water Office. They flew by helicopter to Leavenworth and then up the Missouri River Basin surveying the damage and relief efforts.
Kelly signed an executive order yesterday easing motor carrier regulations to expedite emergency relief and restoration. Last week, the governor issued a state of disaster emergency declaration for several counties affected by flooding. Local, state and federal partners will continue to work together to address the needs of communities and rural areas.
