1) Governor's Budget Revealed

The 2011 Legislature is back in session and Governor Brownback released his FY 2012 budget at 9:00 a.m. this morning via the internet: http://budget.ks.gov/gbr.htm

The news concerning agency reorganization, which was a focal point of the Governor's speech last night, is as follows:

• Abolish Kansas Inc.
• Restructure the Department of Commerce and move the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) under its operation.
• The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns would be transferred to the governor's office.
• Move the Kansas Human Rights Commission to the Attorney General's office.
• Move the State share of Enhanced E-911, which is currently handled by the Governor's office, to the Attorney General's office (monies in the grant fund remain intact and have not been swept)
• Move the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to the Kansas Board of Regents from its current administration by KTEC.
• Change the Kansas Arts Commission into a 501(c)(3) entity and rename it the Kansas Arts Council.
• Merge the Kansas Health Policy Authority into the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
• Abolish the Kansas Parole Board and move all of its functions to the Department of Corrections (KDOC). Also it is recommended that there be a partial administrative consolidation of the Juvenile Justice Authority (JJA) with KDOC.
• Merge Animal Health, the State Conservation Commission, and the Agriculture Marketing Program into the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
• Move the Travel and Tourism program from the Department of Commerce to Wildlife and Parks.

School funding is proposed as follows. (This summary is taken directly from today's testimony of Landon Fulmer, Director of Policy, to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.)

• K-12 State Aid. The FY 2012 budget keeps funding for our schools in a steady state while weaning ourselves off of federal funding we will no long receive. Although base state aid will drop to $3,780, state funding for school districts will increase $129.3 million in FY 2012 to meet our obligations to KPERS and special education as well as making necessary debt payments on capital projects. From a school district's perspective, total state spending per pupil will increase from $4,549 in FY 2011 to $4,743 in FY 2012.
• Higher Education. State General Fund appropriations for the higher education system will increase $10 million. Targeted financial support of research programs important to Kansas is provided with an eye to expanding the state's economy.

Finally, the Governor has expressed strong support for the $8 billion Comprehensive Transportation Program (T-Works), which was passed last year. While the Governor has proposed to sweep $200 million from KDOT, Secretary Deb Miller indicates that this will not affect projects promised through the T-Works program. The local motor fuels money remains completely intact, with a recommendation from the Governor to fund it for FY 2012 at $142,240,000. Similarly, it appears from the preliminary numbers that the local liquor tax monies will continue to be funded at current levels without reduction.

The Governor's proposal serves as the starting point for discussion on the state budget. There are a lot of steps in the process and a long way to go before this, and other issues, are finalized.

Stay tuned.

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2) Register for City Hall Day

There is still time to register for LKM's 2011 City Hall Day! This annual event, which will be on on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, is designed to bring city officials together with state leaders to discuss issues of importance to city officials. Contact your House and Senate members in advance to schedule meetings to discuss issues of concern to your city along with the LKM Action Agenda. City Hall Day will be free of charge to all city officials and legislators, but please sign up here so that we can get an accurate headcount. For more information, click here.

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3) Upcoming MLAs

January's MLA, Finance Planning and Policy Concepts, will be in Lansing on January 22. This elective course will offer participants a better understanding of municipal finance issues in Kansas. Finance Planning and Policy Concepts has been designed to complement the themes covered in the core MLA municipal finance class. Prior participation in Municipal Finance is not required. To register or for more information, please click here.

February's MLA, Ethics, will be in Shawnee on February 11, Dodge City on February 25, and El Dorado on February 26. This core course will provide an overview of the law as it relates to local government ethics and will offer strategies that your city can follow to encourage ethical behavior. Click here for registration and more information.

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4) KDHE Lead Hazard Awareness

The KDHE Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Prevention Program has put together a set of television ads that promote the use of lead-safe work practices, as well as links to educate the public on the dangers of lead-based paint and assistance for homeowner projects. The two advertisements that have been running recently can be found here.

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5) Reclamation Rural Water Supply Program

Reclamation's Rural Water Supply Program provides assistance for appraisal investigations and feasibility studies for rural water supply projects intended to serve a community or group of communities with domestic, industrial, municipal, and residential water. For more information on the program or for information on submitting a Statement of Interest by January 31 for funding in 2011, please click here.

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6) KDOT's Decade Report Available Online

KDOT's newly published decade report, "2001-2010: A decade of projects, progress and engagement", is available here. The report reviews some of the state’s transportation achievements and successes of the past 10 years and describes many of the programs that were implemented to further the state’s safety and economic goals.

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7) 5 Star Wetland and Stream Restoration Grants

The 5 Star Wetland and Stream Restoration Grants request for proposals is now open. This program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships for wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration. Applications must be submitted online by midnight EST, Monday, February 14, 2011. More information is available at the following links:

http://www.nfwf.org/fivestar

http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star

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8) EPA Grant Announcement

EPA is accepting proposals from eligible applicants for projects that build capacity to address children’s environmental health in underserved, disproportionately impacted low-income communities, including minority or Tribal communities , and that demonstrate, implement or expand innovative methods and approaches to prevent and reduce exposures in homes, schools, and child care settings.

Funds available for awards are expected to total approximately $1.5 million. EPA intends to award approximately 15-20 awards, each for an amount not to exceed $100,000.

Applicants must apply electronically through grants.gov or in hard copy by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on February 18, 2011. For links to grant forms and further information, please click here.

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9) Legislative Activities-January 17-21, 2011
Tuesday, January 18
Time	Committee	Location	Bill No.	Topic	Activity
9:30	S,Ju	548-S	SB 6	Criminal procedure, relating to searches and seizures incident to arrest	Hearing
	S,LG	159-S		Don Moler, Executive Director, League of Kansas Municipalities	Presentation
10:30	S,WM	548-S		KPERS update: Glenn Deck, Executive Director, KPERS	Update
Wednesday, January 19
Time	Committee	Location	Bill No.	Topic	Activity
9:00	H,EU	DSOB 785		Staff briefing on Joint Committee on Energy and Environmental Policy	Staff Briefing
	H,PB	142-S		Glenn Deck, Executive Director of KPERS	Presentation
9:30	S,Ju	548-S	SB 7	Driving under the influence	Staff briefing and hearing
Friday, January 21
Time	Committee	Location	Bill No.	Topic	Activity
	S,Ju	548-S	SB 7	Driving under the influence	Continuation of hearing
1:00	H,EU	546-S		Joint Committee on Energy and Environmental Policy	Meeting

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For a PDF Version of the League News, Click Here