As part of the budget passed by the Kansas legislature Monday, lawmakers endorsed a plan to transfer $185 million in sales tax revenue earmarked for transportation projects into the general revenue fund to help balance the budget. As a result, the Kansas Department of Transportation will have to delay 25 road projects that were scheduled for the next 3 years. Republican Representative Tom Moxley of Council Grove says it's important to put this funds transfer in context. Moxley says hundreds of millions of dollars have already been taken from the transportation fund over the past year.
Despite the delays, Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King says the overall condition of the state’s 10,000-mile highway system is good and won’t be negatively impacted. King says preservation projects will continue as scheduled and receive $400 million per year in funding.
