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On the third floor of the Lyon County History Center, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held the sixth session of “The People’s Budget Listening Tour.”
The statewide initiative involves visits to eight Kansas cities, where the governor discusses her administration’s efforts to stabilize state finances and listens to community concerns regarding upcoming budget priorities.
During the Emporia stop, Gov. Kelly addressed various topics including rural healthcare, housing, and transportation. However, she emphasized that education remains the most pressing issue voiced by Kansans across all regions.
“Our K–12 system is the number one issue all across Kansas,” Kelly stated. “I’m proud to say that we’ve been fully funding public schools for the last seven years.”
Local superintendents and government officials joined the discussion, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in general and special education programs.
Concerns Over State Budget Process and Overspending
Gov. Kelly, alongside Budget Director Adam Proffitt, also discussed the evolving dynamics of the state budgeting process. They highlighted the significance of maintaining executive input during budget formulation.
The governor referenced Senate Bill 125, the recently passed state budget, noting that the Kansas Legislature bypassed the traditional procedure of reviewing and amending the governor’s proposal before returning it for approval.
Instead, lawmakers began drafting the budget independently, excluding the Governor’s Office from the initial phase.
Kelly cautioned that this move could signal troubling trends in the state’s financial management.
“The Legislature really overspent last year,” Kelly warned. “You can’t continue down that path when you look at the revenues that came in. The state could face serious financial strain if this continues.”
Community Support and SNAP-Related Food Drives
In light of the federal government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP benefits, each stop on the governor’s tour — except Salina — has doubled as a community food drive.
So far, excluding Garden City and Emporia, the tour has collected over 1,300 pounds of food through partnerships with local food banks and pantries.
During the Q&A session, Kelly mentioned that she expects partial SNAP payments to reach Kansans by Monday, but emphasized that her administration continues to push for full benefit restoration.
“We’ve got to do it all,” Kelly said. “If federal officials back the partial payments with the rest, we’ll make sure the funds reach recipients by Tuesday or Wednesday next week.”
Looking Ahead: Final Tour Stops
As the tour nears its conclusion, Gov. Kelly plans to visit Pittsburg and Wichita to further engage with Kansans and gather public feedback for the next fiscal year’s budget.
These discussions aim to ensure that state spending reflects community needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and addressing key issues such as education, health care, and food security.
Governor Laura Kelly’s “People’s Budget Listening Tour” underscores her commitment to transparency and citizen engagement in Kansas’s budgeting process.
By addressing education funding, budget oversight, and community welfare, Kelly continues to foster open dialogue with residents while highlighting her administration’s focus on stability, accountability, and service delivery.