Kansas State Fair outlines capital projects, emergency command center and Bison Arena renovation during budget hearing

The Kansas State Fair’s general manager briefed the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget on the fair’s FY2025 and FY2026 request, emphasizing capital projects, a planned emergency command center and progress on the Bison Arena renovation.

Legislative Research analyst Luke Drury told the committee the fair had $3.9 million in unspent general fund reappropriations from prior years; $3.6 million of that was identified for continued work on the Bison Arena, with $300,000 for additional lighting at the fairgrounds and a smaller line item described in the packet for grounds improvements. Drury also said the Legislative Budget Committee recommended no changes to the agency’s request.

Brian Schultz, general manager of the Kansas State Fair, presented operational and attendance results for 2024 and discussed capital and safety projects. He told legislators the Bison Arena received an initial $10 million appropriation in prior sessions; the fair has expended roughly $5.1 million on reconstruction to date, and phase‑1 exterior work is expected to be completed by August. Schultz said an estimated $3.5 million would be needed for a phase‑2 interior renovation to complete approximately 50% of the arena floor.

Schultz also described an emergency command center (ECC) the fair plans to develop using ARPA funds approved by the State Finance Council and encumbered for the project. The committee packet shows roughly $247,000 in ARPA funds rolling into FY2025 for the ECC after being only partially spent in FY2024. Schultz said the fair envisions the ECC as a year‑round facility that would provide a joint operations space for Kansas Highway Patrol, dispatch, EMS and fair security; he estimated an ultimate project cost of about $2 million for a new facility at Main and 20th that would house command, dispatch and Highway Patrol space.

On the expo center, Drury and Schultz noted the Kansas Development Finance Authority issued revenue bonds in 2021 to rehabilitate the facility, and the fair is paying annual principal and interest from fee funds. The expo center rehabilitation is complete; remaining costs are debt service on bonds scheduled to be repaid by FY2028.

Committee members asked about timing and procurement: Drury explained capital items go to the Joint Committee on State Building Construction for consideration, and the legislature’s budget committee will consider any recommendations after that committee’s hearing. Drury told members the joint committee would hear the fair’s five‑year plan before the budget committee reconvenes to work the budget.

Why it matters: the State Fair is a multiuse public facility with year‑round events and capital needs across more than 70 buildings on 280 acres. The committee’s review of capital reappropriations, ARPA‑funded safety work and bond repayment affects how the state manages long‑term maintenance and public‑safety investments at the fairgrounds.

What’s next: the fair’s five‑year capital plan is scheduled for the Joint Committee on State Building Construction hearing; the budget committee plans to revisit the state fair budget after that hearing and before finalizing appropriations.