Gov. Brownbacks Budget Would Divert Highway Funds

Kansas would use some of its highway dollars to help cover the cost of busing children to and from public schools under Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget proposals.

Brownback proposed Wednesday that the state divert $193 million normally set aside for highway projects to school transportation programs during the two years beginning in July.

The diversion would be almost $97 million in each of the next two fiscal years.

Brownback’s administration said the state still will complete the 10-year, $8 billion transportation program that it started in 2010.

When the state has faced budget problems in the past, it has raided highway funds to support general government programs.

Budget Director Steve Anderson said Brownback is now seeking to divert highway funds to cover other transportation-related expenses.