State Treasurer Jake LaTurner Adds New Transparency to Statewide Debt Report

Topeka—Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner today released the statewide indebtedness report in a new, more transparent, user-friendly web format for Kansans to access. The report shows Kansas carrying a debt of $1,554 per capita, placing it 18th in the nation for highest debt per capita compared to all fifty states and higher than the debt per capita of Missouri ($532), Oklahoma ($303), Iowa ($219), and Nebraska ($20) combined. This data is compiled as part of the 2018 Moody’s Investor Service’s Public Finance Report, published annually.

“It is important that we do not turn a blind eye to this endless cycle of mortgaging our children’s future,” said Laturner. “Adding more debt to our state must come to an end, and it starts with shining a light on where we are doing well and where we need to improve.”

The website, which can be found at https://kansasstatetreasurer.com/indebtedness.html, includes a series of interactive graphs that detail the sources and amounts of debt carried by the state as well as individual counties.

“I strongly encourage the Governor, Legislators and others to use these tools to help develop a plan that aggressively attacks this liability,” said LaTurner, “Debt is a dangerous cycle that does not end without action on our part. Kansans work hard every day to balance their budgets at home, and government should do the same.”