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State Treasurer outlines Build Kansas distributions, unclaimed property payouts and a frozen $50M transfer
Summary
The treasurer’s office briefed the committee on its operating role, Build Kansas matching grant activity and a freeze by the Legislative Budget Committee on a proposed $50 million Build Kansas transfer for FY2027; the office also described increased unclaimed property payouts and said it can produce district-level lists for lawmakers.
Jacob Gillespie, fiscal analyst for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, reviewed the Office of the State Treasurer’s budget materials and summarized the packet: a budget summary, LBC changes and a performance‑based budgeting report. He told members the treasurer’s office acts as the state’s fiscal agent and that large swings in all‑fund totals largely reflect pass‑through activity, notably the Build Kansas matching grant fund.
Gillespie said the Build Kansas fund had an ending balance near $98.3 million and that the Legislative Budget Committee froze a planned $50 million transfer in FY2027. He described Build Kansas as a matching grant fund for entities eligible under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and said the agency is beginning distributions for grants that have federal approval.
State Treasurer Steven Johnson emphasized the treasurer’s role as executor of legislative direction for these funds and said the Build Kansas Committee makes project funding decisions; "The Build Kansas Committee would make a decision on which projects to fund, and we are the entity that executes that," Johnson said. Members asked whether Build Kansas grants are reaching rural counties outside the top 10; Gillespie said he could compile historical rural/urban breakdowns on request.
Gillespie and treasurer staff also flagged increased unclaimed property estimates (transfers to pay claims were about $21.4 million in FY25; estimated claims of about $21.7 million are expected in FY26–27). Several lawmakers asked whether the treasurer can provide district‑level unclaimed property lists for outreach; Johnson said the office can prepare such lists but that the use of a national vendor for unclaimed property sometimes complicates fast custom reporting — staff offered to work with legislative staff to produce acceptable reports for members.
On STAR bonds and the food sales tax replacement fund, Shauna Wake (director of operations, treasurer’s office) said only existing projects were expected to be included in replacement calculations, not future agreements, absent a change in law or negotiation. The committee did not vote on treasurer office items during this hearing; staff said they would provide follow‑up breakdowns and lists if requested.
