Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee recommends Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board budget and amends KCC budget to restore retention bonuses
Summary
A legislative committee recommended the FY2026–27 budget for the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board and amended the Kansas Corporation Commission budget to restore agency retention-bonus funding while declining to restore a small FTE increase. The KCC amendment passed 5–4; the FTE motion failed.
A legislative committee on utilities reviewed agency budgets and moved two recommendations on Jan. 13, 2026.
Luke Drury, senior fiscal analyst with the Kansas Legislative Research Department, told the panel that the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board made no supplemental or enhancement requests and that the Special Committee on State Budget and the House concurred with the agency’s FY2026–27 request. "The agency did not have any supplementals or enhancement requests," Drury said, and he stood ready to answer questions from committee members.
Senator Warren moved that the committee recommend the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board budget for FY2026 and FY2027; after clarifying that this committee customarily uses the term "recommend," members approved the recommendation by voice vote.
The committee then took up the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) budget. Drury summarized the Special Committee recommendation to delete retention-bonus funding from agency fee funds—$32,000 in FY2026 and $52,000 in FY2027—and to remove 0.2 FTE in each year. He noted the House as reported concurs with the Special Committee, while the governor’s recommendation did not include those deletions.
Senators questioned whether retention bonuses are a common tool across agencies and asked how bonuses are calculated. Drury said these retention bonuses are distinct from longevity pay, are approved by the agency and commission, and that he did not have specifics on the formula or timing.
Senator Clifford moved to add back the retention-bonus funding (he cited figures of $32,426 for 2026 and $52,427 for 2027). Supporters argued retention is important to keep technical staff needed to process rate cases; opponents raised concerns about setting a precedent of providing bonuses to single agencies. The committee approved restoring the retention-bonus funds by a 5–4 vote.
A subsequent motion to restore the 0.2 FTE positions the Special Committee had deleted (moved by Senator Francisco) was debated and put to a vote; the record shows the motion failed. Later, the committee moved to recommend the KCC budget "as amended"—effectively the KCC request with retention-bonus funding restored but without the restored 0.2 FTE—and carried that recommendation by voice vote.
The budget actions affect agency staffing and the KCC’s ability to manage technically complex utility rate cases and hearings. Luke Drury told the committee the KCC had 60.75 FTE filled as of the Jan. 3, 2026 pay period, while committee members noted the agency is authorized for roughly 204 FTE and discussed vacancies.
What happens next: The committee recorded its recommendations for the two agencies; the actions will be reflected in the legislature’s budget reports and subsequent floor consideration.
