3.24.11
K-State #1 in Cell Phone Spending
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact James Franko (316) 634-0218

An examination of the state checkbook reveals that agencies spent $89 million last year on several categories that often contain large amounts of unnecessary expenditures.  Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) conducted the examination and made the results available today on KansasOpenGov.org.  Spending on overtime, advertising, cell phones, and dues, memberships and subscriptions totaled $50 million; $39 million in travel and entertainment spending was posted earlier this week.  Read the full Press Release here.

3.22.11
State Agencies Claim Confidentiality on Travel Spending
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact James Franko (316) 634-0218

State agencies, boards and universities in Kansas claimed they did not have to disclose details on $21.4 million in spending on various forms of travel and entertainment in FY 2010, according to a Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) analysis of the state's checkbook.  Complete details on travel and the entire state checkbook are available online at KansasOpenGov.org.  Read the full Press Release here.

3.7.11
KPERS (at least) $9.3 Billion In The Red
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact James Franko (316) 634-0218

(Wichita, March 7, 2011) - A family of four would have to write a check for $13,200 to pay off their pro-rata share of the unfunded liabilities in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.

Kansas taxpayers are on the hook for $9.3 billion according to a new study from Kansas Policy Institute and retired University of Colorado professor Dr. Barry Poulson, an Adjunct Fiscal Policy Fellow at KPI.  Reports of a $7.6 billion unfunded liability do not account for $1.7 billion in losses that have already occurred - loses largely driven by the recession and acknowledged by KPERS.  Read the full Press Release here.

11.11.10
Website Shines New Light On Government Spending In Kansas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact James Franko (316) 634-0218

(Wichita, November 11, 2010) - Questions about how much each school district receives in per-pupil aid are eliminated with a new School District section on KansasOpenGov.org, a website that puts the facts of government spending at Kansans' fingertips.  The new School District section shows per-pupil spending and revenue for every Kansas district by school year, from 2005 through 2009; data for the 2010 school year will be added when released by the state next month. Read the full Press Release here.

7.27.10
County Budget Analysis Study Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact James Franko (316) 634-0218

(WICHITA, July 28, 2010) - A new study, "Kansas County Budget Analysis - In Search of Efficient Government," from Kansas Policy Institute compares 2009 per-resident spending across all 105 counties and creates a benchmarking tool for county officials and Kansas citizens.  The findings suggest hundreds of millions of dollars in potential savings from improved efficiency and transparency.  The full study can be found here, with complete data set here.  Read the full Press Release here.

4.30.2010
Schools districts use carryover reserves to spend more this year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Anne Chandler (316) 634-0218
 
(Wichita, KS) Analysis of K-12 spending projections for FY 2010 shows that total spending is up about $320 million over last year, with about $220 million of the increase in current operating costs and the rest is in Capital and Debt Service.  174 districts are predicting higher operating expenditures this year; 77 districts have reductions of less than 5% and 42 districts have reductions greater than 5%.  Read the full Press Release here.

4.15.2010
Budget Proposal Delivered to Governor Mark Parkinson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Anne Chandler (316) 634-0218
 
(Wichita, KS) Kansas Policy Institute is pleased to accept the invitation Governor Mark Parkinson issued, in a video posted by the Wichita Eagle, for Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) to show him our plan to balance the 2011 budget by funding state programs at 2010 levels without a tax increase.  KPI delivered the budget proposal April 14, 2010 to the office of the Governor. Read the full Press Release here.

4.14.2010
Taxpayer Survey and Balancing the Budget Without Tax Increases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Anne Chandler (316) 634-0218
 
(Topeka, KS) KansasReporter will hold a press conference to release the results of a statewide survey on school funding in Kansas.  The survey was conducted by The Research Partnership of Wichita to establish a baseline of public perception on K-12 funding and to determine Kansans' willingness to pay higher taxes to provide more money to schools.  Details: Thursday, 4/15/2010 at 11:00AM, State Capitol, Room 144-S. Read the full Press Release here.

4.7.2010
Kansans Unwilling to Pay Higher Taxes for Schools under Current Conditions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Anne Chandler (316) 634-0218
 
(Wichita, KS) A new statewide public opinion survey conducted by The Research Partnership on behalf of Kansas Reporter shows that Kansans are strongly opposed to paying higher taxes for schools because total aid per-pupil is 26% higher now than five years ago, which is the baseline for school aid being increased under the Montoy decision. Read the full Press Release here.

3.24.2010
New Study Promotes Competitive Tax Policies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Anne Chandler (316) 634-0218
 
(Wichita, KS) "Positioning Kansas for Economic Growth with Competitive Tax Policies" shows how Kansas' tax policies compare with neighboring states and recommends how tax policy can be used to position the state to be more competitive for job creation and retention. The study is published by Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) and is authored by Jonathan Williams, adjunct fiscal policy fellow with KPI and director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Read the full Press Release here.

3.23.2010
School Spending Study Finds $717 Million in Potential Savings 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Dave Trabert (316) 634-0218

(Wichita, KS) A new study on K-12 spending in Kansas concludes that schools statewide are spending as much as $717 million more than is necessary, and that implementing the 'best practices' of more efficient districts could eliminate the need to raise taxes or cut spending on other essential services. Read the full Press Release here.