Former transportation secretary outlines 10‑year Kansas water plan framework and funding scenarios

Julie Lorenz, former Kansas secretary of transportation, briefed the House Appropriations Committee on a proposed implementation framework to move the 2022 Kansas Water Plan from strategy to funded projects and regional pipelines.

Lorenz said the plan sets a long‑term “50‑year water supply” goal and proposes a dynamic, rolling 10‑year program that would be reviewed regularly and tied to measurable outcomes. “A community without a plan is a bad investment,” she told the committee, saying communities and potential investors need predictable planning and prioritization to guide projects and spending.

The nut graph: Lorenz recommended a two‑year ramp‑up period for agencies to build capacity and an independent evaluation structure, then a rolling program evaluated and renewed every 10 years. She offered three funding scenarios—stand pat (approximate base funding cited as $60 million annually), a mid‑level “move‑the‑needle” scenario (~$120 million per year), and a “game changer” (~$360 million per year)—and said public input and stakeholder work…