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Wildlife and Parks budget discussion centers on EDIF cuts, Flint Hills Trail match and dam repairs
Summary
A Legislative Research briefing on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks budget identified EDIF reductions, one-time state-match funding for the Flint Hills Trail and proposed dam repairs at state fishing lakes; the agency is also slated to receive federal grants for recovery and visitor-center projects if appropriations remain.
Luke Drury presented the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) budget to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and noted the House and Senate positions differ on use of Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) dollars and certain one-time projects.
Drury said that, as it stood in House Bill 2,007, KDWP would receive $4,224,000 in EDIF; the Senate position removed those EDIF allocations. "That would be a reduction of $4,200,000 to the Department of Wildlife and Parks for FY 2026," he said during questions.
Drury described $3,000,000 of proposed general-fund spending to act as the state match for a federal grant to finish the Flint Hills Trail; the agency has an awarded federal grant of roughly $25–$27 million for segments of the trail, and the $3,000,000 would be the state match to draw down those funds. He also noted previously deleted one-time dam-repair requests that the House later recommended to restore; those repairs are primarily to earthen dams at state fishing lakes.
Drury told the committee KDWP is also slated to receive federal recovery funds for species work (Whooping Crane and Eastern Black Rail were mentioned) and a Sprint grant administered by the Department of Commerce for visitor centers at several state parks, including Kanopolis and Little Jerusalem.
Committee members asked about an administrative FTE request that the agency sought but which was deleted by the Legislative Budget Committee and not restored. Drury offered to provide FTE actuals and other data to the committee and noted Acting Secretary Kennedy was present to answer technical or policy questions.
Several senators questioned the equity of EDIF reductions and the implications for park operations, utilities and visitor services; the committee did not take formal votes. Drury and members discussed the procedural steps for applying a 1.5% operating reduction and for identifying vacant general‑funded positions subject to reductions.
Ending: The committee asked staff for further breakdowns of FTE actuals, capital and operating increases in KDWP—s 10-year tables and for more detail on which EDIF dollars fund park operating costs versus other initiatives.
