Governor Laura Kelly has unveiled Kansas’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, a meticulously balanced financial plan designed to maintain the state’s fiscal health while fully funding essential services. The budget reflects Governor Kelly’s commitment to fiscal conservatism, ensuring economic stability without incurring additional debt. Kelly’s approach seeks to keep Kansas on a steady economic course while making major investments in critical areas such as education, healthcare, water resources, and public safety. This budget also emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and accountability, aiming to improve the quality of life for all Kansans.
Continued Full Funding for K-12 Public Education
For the seventh consecutive year, the budget ensures full funding for Kansas’ K-12 public education. This includes a significant allocation of $72.6 million for Special Education State Aid, which is part of a five-year plan to achieve full funding for special education. Moreover, the budget sets aside $500,000 to cover Advanced Placement (AP) test fees for low-income students, promoting academic opportunities for underprivileged youth. By investing in the education sector, Governor Kelly aims to lay a strong foundation for future generations and ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their economic background.
In addition to addressing special education and AP test fees, the budget also takes a comprehensive approach to supporting the K-12 system as a whole. This includes funding initiatives that aim to close the achievement gaps and provide needed resources for teachers and students. By continuing to fully fund K-12 education, the state not only invests in its youth but also in its long-term economic health and competitiveness. Kelly’s commitment to this sector underlines the importance of education as a driver of both personal and state-wide progress.
Investment in Early Childhood Care and Education
Governor Kelly’s budget designates approximately $13.4 million to expand child care slots and build child care workforce capacity. This includes $10 million for the Childcare Capacity Accelerator Grant program, aimed at increasing the availability of child care services, and $1.3 million for Child Care Health and Safety Grants to ensure safe and healthy childcare environments. Furthermore, the budget proposes eliminating co-payments for students on reduced lunch programs, providing free school meals to over 35,000 Kansas students and addressing food insecurity among children. These investments reflect a comprehensive strategy to support early childhood education and ensure that students start their academic journey with all necessary resources.
The budget’s emphasis on expanding early childhood care and education is geared towards creating a robust workforce and addressing the pressing issues facing young families. By increasing child care slots and ensuring safety in these environments, Governor Kelly aims to ease the burdens on working parents, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the economy. Additionally, eliminating co-payments for students on reduced lunch programs addresses a significant aspect of child poverty, allowing children to perform better academically without worrying about their next meal. Overall, these investments are crucial for the long-term societal and economic benefits that early childhood education provides.
Addressing Long-Term Water Needs
The budget reflects a growing commitment to water resource management with a $30 million increase in annual spending, bringing the total close to $90 million. These funds will support water infrastructure projects in small towns, the implementation of water-saving technology for farmers near the Ogallala Aquifer, and groundwater contamination clean-up near cities and parks. This strategic investment aims to build a robust long-term water plan that will support population sustainability and promote economic growth. Effective management of water resources is critical given the increasing demands and the ongoing climate challenges that affect water supply and quality.
Water resource management is essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for the economic vitality of the state. By investing in infrastructure and technology that improve water conservation and quality, Kansas can ensure a stable water supply for agriculture, industry, and residents. This budget allocation highlights the importance of preparing for future needs and mitigating impacts that could arise from droughts or contamination. Governor Kelly’s proactive measures aim to create a sustainable water strategy, ensuring that Kansas remains resilient and adaptable in the face of changing water dynamics.
Expansion of Medicaid
Governor Kelly’s budget proposes an expansion of Medicaid to cover 150,000 more Kansans. This plan aims to bring over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars back to Kansas annually that is currently sent to other states. By leveraging one-time federal funds and a delayed hospital surcharge, the Medicaid expansion is designed to be revenue-neutral, ensuring no additional costs to Kansas taxpayers. The proposed expansion seeks to provide affordable healthcare access to more residents and reduce overall healthcare costs. Expanding Medicaid is a strategic move aimed at improving public health outcomes while ensuring financial feasibility for the state.
Medicaid expansion not only seeks to provide comprehensive healthcare to more individuals but also to enhance the overall healthcare system. By increasing access, more residents can receive timely and preventive care, potentially reducing the need for more costly emergency interventions. This approach aims to lower the overall healthcare costs by addressing health issues early. Additionally, bringing back taxpayer dollars into the state allows for the strengthening of healthcare infrastructure, potentially creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in the healthcare sector. Governor Kelly’s budget underscores the necessity of expanding Medicaid to ensure a healthier population and a stronger economy.
Support for Higher Education
The budget prioritizes higher education with nearly $50 million in additional funding to support the postsecondary sector and lower higher education costs for students. This includes an additional $14.4 million in state funding aimed at increasing need-based financial aid and investments in cybersecurity infrastructure across the postsecondary education system. By relieving some of the financial burdens on students, the budget helps ensure that higher education is accessible to a broader range of Kansans and prepares them for the demands of a competitive job market.
In addition to need-based financial aid and cybersecurity investments, the budget focuses on initiatives that enhance the quality and efficacy of postsecondary education. This includes grants and programs aimed at career readiness and workforce development, ensuring that graduates have the skills needed in the evolving economic landscape. By making higher education more affordable and aligning it with industry needs, Governor Kelly’s budget aims to strengthen the state’s workforce and economic prospects. These strategic investments reflect a commitment to long-term economic growth through a well-educated and skilled population.
Enhancements to the Foster Care System
Addressing the needs of Kansas’ foster care system, the budget includes $9 million for the Department of Children and Families to compensate for the loss of funds due to Executive Order 25-01. This ensures that foster youth eligible for social security benefits receive their entitled federal funding. Additionally, $2.6 million is allocated to establish Behavioral Health Intervention Teams statewide for Child Welfare Providers, aiming to increase placement stability for youth who experience frequent placement disruptions. These initiatives are pivotal in creating a more stable and nurturing environment for foster children.
The budget’s commitment to enhancing the foster care system underscores the importance of supporting vulnerable youth. By ensuring that foster children receive the benefits they are entitled to, Governor Kelly addresses an immediate need within the foster care community. The allocation for Behavioral Health Intervention Teams highlights the need for specialized support to address the unique challenges faced by foster youth. These measures aim to create more stable placements, reducing the emotional and psychological toll of frequent moves. Overall, the budget reflects a holistic approach to improving the foster care system and providing these children with the stability and support they need to thrive.
Healthcare Services and Hospital Safety
Healthcare services and hospital safety see bolstered investment in this budget, with Governor Kelly allocating $2 million towards capacity building to ensure that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are safe and compliant. Furthermore, $1.5 million in bridge funding is included for education, support, and training to minimize infectious diseases. Recognizing the importance of mental and behavioral health, the budget also funds additional psychologists at Osawatomie State Hospital to provide direct patient services, including individual and group psychotherapy. These initiatives reflect a comprehensive approach to improving healthcare and ensuring patient safety across the state.
Investing in healthcare infrastructure and services is crucial for maintaining high standards of care and patient safety. By allocating funds for capacity building and training, Governor Kelly aims to address current challenges and prevent future issues. The inclusion of mental health professionals at state hospitals underscores the growing recognition of mental health as a critical component of overall health. These investments are designed to ensure that Kansas hospitals and facilities can provide safe, effective, and comprehensive care to all patients, contributing to better health outcomes and enhancing the state’s healthcare system.
Support for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and natural resources see continued support with a $1 million investment in the Center for Sorghum Improvement. This funding aims to attract a 4:1 match from private donors, thereby supporting a 10-year research collaborative focused on promoting water-saving sorghum crops’ growth in Kansas. Additionally, the budget addresses the needs of the rapidly growing aging population, providing essential services to the state’s most vulnerable residents. These investments reflect the importance of supporting key industries and populations that contribute significantly to the state’s economy and social fabric.
The budget’s allocation for agriculture underscores the importance of research and innovation in sustaining the state’s agricultural sector. By focusing on water-saving crops like sorghum, Governor Kelly’s budget supports sustainable farming practices that can help address environmental challenges. Furthermore, the focus on services for the aging population highlights the need to address demographic shifts and ensure that older residents receive the care and support they need. This comprehensive approach to supporting agriculture and vulnerable populations aims to promote a more resilient and forward-thinking state, capable of addressing both current and future challenges.
Investments in Public Safety
The budget includes critical investments in the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Corrections. These funds are aimed at improving educational and career outcomes while completing necessary projects to facilitate the Career Campus at Lansing Correctional Facility. By investing in public safety, Governor Kelly aims to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and improve overall community safety. These allocations reflect the importance of ensuring that public safety agencies have the resources they need to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.
Investing in public safety is essential for maintaining order and protecting residents. By focusing on improving educational and career outcomes within correctional facilities, the budget aims to reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration into society. This holistic approach to public safety not only addresses immediate law enforcement needs but also promotes long-term community well-being. Governor Kelly’s budget supports initiatives that enhance the capabilities of public safety officers and provide them with the tools and training necessary to perform their duties, ensuring a safer Kansas for everyone.
Economic Development and Tourism
Governor Laura Kelly has presented Kansas’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which is a precisely balanced financial plan aimed at maintaining the state’s economic well-being while ensuring essential services are fully funded. Demonstrating a strong commitment to fiscal conservatism, Governor Kelly has crafted this budget to promote economic stability without adding new debt. Her strategy aims to keep Kansas on a solid economic footing while making significant investments in key areas like education, healthcare, water resources, and public safety. The budget also highlights the importance of strategic foresight and responsibility, with a focus on enhancing the quality of life for all Kansans. Governor Kelly’s plan is not just about financial prudence but also about thoughtful allocation of resources to areas that directly impact citizens’ daily lives. This budget underscores her dedication to both long-term economic health and immediate public needs, ensuring that the state’s future remains bright and its services robust.
