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Committee restores reappropriations for Veterans Affairs, discusses Topeka veterans home status
Summary
The committee approved reappropriations and FY27 lease/operating enhancements for the Kansas Office of Veterans Affairs, and heard that the proposed Topeka veterans home has a $49 million project estimate with prior state match appropriations and ~$3 million spent on design and engineering to date.
The Committee on Social Services Budget approved the Kansas Office of Veterans Affairs budget for FY26–FY27, including the reappropriations staff identified and a FY27 lease enhancement tied to agency relocation into the Landon Building.
Molly Pratt (Legislative Research) told the committee the FY26 agency request totals about $60.4 million, with roughly $20 million in reappropriations; approximately $13.7 million is associated with the proposed Topeka veterans home. General Turner, representing the agency, said the total project cost is about $49 million, that the state previously appropriated approximately $17.2 million as the state share used to pursue a 65% federal VA grant, and that about $3 million has been expended for architectural and engineering work to date. He said the funds are tracked in a dedicated SIBF account and are being held for the project.
Representative King and others asked whether the earmarked funds will be diminished over time by normal expenditures and how inflation and rising construction costs affect future appropriations; Turner and staff said the funds remain accounted for in project tracking and that additional appropriations may be required if future project costs increase.
The committee moved to approve the Veterans Affairs recommendations, including VCAP/claims assistance reappropriations, and passed the motion by voice vote. Staff will include detailed line items in the budget committee report.
