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Committee reviews Kansas Public Disclosure Commission budget; acting director flags rent increase
Summary
Fiscal analyst Ariana told the Committee on General Government Budget the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission’s FY2026 revised all‑funds estimate is about $889,000 with $589,000 from the state general fund; acting executive director Jennifer Schneider said the agency’s building recently sold and rent rose roughly $400 a month.
The Committee on General Government Budget heard a budget presentation for the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission on the agency’s FY2026 and FY2027 requests. Ariana, a fiscal analyst, told the committee the PDC’s FY2026 revised estimate totals about $889,000 in all funds, with roughly $589,000 requested from the state general fund. She said salary and wages account for about 79.9% of the agency’s FY2026 budget and contractual services make up roughly 19.1%.
Ariana explained recent year‑to‑year increases reflected the conversion of a part‑time attorney to a full‑time position and adjustments tied to the state pay plan, while vacancies reduced FY2025 actual spending. She also said the approved FY2026 budget document lists approximately 8.5 FTE positions and reflects a mix of SGF and fee‑fund revenue, with candidate filing fees, lobbyist registration fees and PAC registration fees identified as the fee‑fund sources.
Jennifer Schneider, the agency’s acting executive director, introduced herself and said she began in the role Dec. 14. She told the committee the PDC remains located at 901 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka and that the office’s building was sold to KC Residence LLC, which resulted in an unanticipated rent increase. "Our rent did go up about $400 a month," Schneider said, adding that the agency did not receive prior notice of a new contract and that the state's Sunshine office was reviewing the situation.
Representatives pressed for clarifications. Representative Milton asked whether an $18,009.42 decrease attributed to health‑insurance costs was a temporary reduction that could reverse if staffing changed; Ariana said she could not provide the precise employment details and would ask the agency for more information. Representative Riley requested that CPI comparison figures and a fee schedule (rates for filings and registrations) be included in the committee materials; staff pointed to the fee page in the packet and agreed to follow up.
The committee did not take formal action on the PDC budget during the meeting; members said they would follow up on specific clarifications and reappropriation questions when preparing recommendations.
