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LCC approves hiring consultant to review higher-education budgets amid debate over cost and oversight
Summary
The Council authorized hiring a consultant under KSA 46 12 o 4 to review higher-education budgets; supporters cited potential savings and identified roughly $100 million in questionable items, while opponents raised concerns about cost, lack of an RFP, and transparency.
The Legislative Coordinating Council voted to authorize the chair to hire a consultant for a five-month engagement to provide professional services related to higher-education budgets under KSA 46 12 o 4.
President Masterson moved to authorize the hire, saying the state must find efficiencies and noting public budgetary pressure: "we really need to cut $200,000,000 from our budget." He said the consultant would help identify waste and improve budgeting for higher education. Representative Carpenter supported the hire and told the Council his office had identified roughly $100,000,000 in questionable spending in interim work, giving examples including a $75,000 travel reimbursement to a manufacturing tour guide, $96,000 to a nutrition consultant, and $111,000 to a headhunting firm.
Senator Sykes opposed the motion, criticizing the process as effectively sole-source and questioning whether existing staff (legislative research and budget division) could handle the work. She asked for a breakdown of how LCC contracted services budgets have changed from FY22 through FY27 and requested transparency on vendor selection. Sykes noted the consultant fee cited in debate was about $10,000 per month and said she had not had adequate time to review the proposal before the meeting.
After discussion, the motion passed by recorded vote with five yeses and two noes. The Council directed the chair to execute any associated agreement and asked staff to provide the requested budget breakdown to members.
