Committee adds $750,000 to Kansas State Fair budget for emergency command center

A legislative committee on Monday approved adding $750,000 to the Kansas State Fair’s fiscal 2026 budget to help build an emergency command center on the fairgrounds.

The enhancement funds were added during a debate after Brian Schultz, speaking for the Kansas State Fair, described a proposed above‑ground, cinder‑block facility of roughly 4,000 square feet designed to house year‑round Kansas Highway Patrol offices and a separate emergency command center during fairs and other incidents. "This facility will be a roughly about 4,000 square feet and it'll be of above ground ... all a cinder block made so we'll be able to withstand weather," Schultz said. He estimated the command center could hold "about, 50 to 75 people in there" and would include space for dispatchers and a wall of video monitors to view fairground cameras.

Why it matters: The fairgrounds draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and lawmakers said the site’s size and surface layout make coordinated emergency response difficult without a dedicated, accessible command location. Committee members asked whether the building would be used year‑round, who would occupy it and how construction costs were estimated. Schultz said the Kansas Highway Patrol would maintain year‑round offices in one half of the building and that the other half would operate as a joint command center during the fair and other events.

Committee discussion and funding plan

Representative Long moved to "fund the enhancement request for the state fair budget 750,000 to be used towards emergency command center for FY 26." Representative Roth seconded the motion. Representatives on the panel questioned the scope and price of the original $2,000,000 request, which had been submitted after the regular budget packet was filed. Representative Carlin asked for details about the size, capacity and safety advantages over existing facilities; Schultz said the planned site at the corner of 20th Street and Main Avenue is on the outside of the grounds to allow easier ingress and egress during an incident.

Committee members also discussed cost‑sharing with local partners. Schultz said the fair is "in the process" of pursuing grant opportunities and working with local agencies, including the highway patrol and Hutchinson Regional Hospital, to offset construction and technology costs. He said about $247,000 in ARPA funds had been previously appropriated for architectural fees and to start the project; the $750,000 would be additional seed money for fundraising and early work.

Vote and budget outcome

The committee voted by voice to add $750,000 to the state fair’s FY26 budget for the emergency command center; members voted to pass the Kansas State Fair budget for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 as amended to include the $750,000. The record reflects a voice vote; individual yea/nay tallies were not recorded in the hearing transcript. Committee staff indicated the request will be reflected as $750,000 in the committee report and that the source of those dollars was expected to be the state general fund for FY2026 (final funding source to be determined in subsequent appropriations action).

What was not decided

The committee approved the added funding but did not finalize the full financing plan for the project. Schultz and lawmakers said the fair will continue to pursue grants and local contributions; he cited discussions with the highway patrol about potential ECC (emergency command center) grants. The fair's original enhancement request for $2,000,000 was made after the division of budget and legislative research completed their initial summaries, so that full amount was not included in the packet reviewed by the committee.

Ending

The committee moved on to other budget items after voting to amend and pass the state fair budget. Officials said further details and potential cost‑sharing will be pursued with local partners and through grant applications.