12/13/05-A Kansas legislative panel has approved $60 million in bonds the state’s transportation department said is needed to keep a 10-year highway program rolling.
Transportation Secretary Deb Miller told lawmakers prior to the Monday, Dec. 12, vote that the state’s highway plan needs $210 million in bonds by Jan. 31, 2006. Failure to act would result in the state halting transportation work that it already has promised, The Associated Press reported.
The bonds would compensate for the state getting less than expected in the federal Highway Bill that was approved this summer by Congress.
The Legislative Budget Committee’s unanimous consent sends the proposal to the State Finance Council for its approval. The council, which includes Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, has the power to allow the bond issue.
When state lawmakers created the transportation program six years ago, they financed it with bonds, sales taxes and increased taxes on gasoline and diesel, The AP reported. Because sales tax revenues later were diverted, the Kansas Legislature restructured the program a year ago.
The restructuring anticipated $150 million in new bonds. Legislators also left open the possibility of authorizing an additional $60 million in bonds if needed.
The state’s House and Senate transportation panels must approve the $150 million during the session that begins Jan. 9. It would then need approval by the Finance Council.

12/12/05-The head of the Kansas Department of Transportation has put out a call to state lawmakers to help out with a $117 million financing gap for transportation work in the state.
Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said Tuesday, Dec. 6, the state’s 10-year transportation plan is in need of $210 million in bonds to keep the plan rolling.
She said when the Legislature refinanced the $13.5 billion plan in 2004 they assumed an infusion of $250 million in federal aid during the next five years, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
The Highway Bill that was approved this summer by Congress, however, will provide only $133 million toward the state program, she said.
Miller blamed the federal funding gap and higher costs associated with this year’s Gulf hurricanes for putting the state’s transportation plan in jeopardy.
She urged lawmakers to approve a contingency plan to ensure that all the promised projects will be completed.
In addition, she said legislators should repay $125 million in loans made to cover budget shortfalls at the expense of the state’s highway fund, the newspaper reported.
Miller did not name specific projects that might be put at risk if the funding problem is not resolved.
The Kansas Legislature is scheduled to open its next session Jan. 9.