Department of Administration seeks restoration of reappropriations and Docking building close‑out funds

The Committee on General Government Budget heard Department of Administration budget presentations from Stephen Wu of the Legislative Research Department and Secretary of Administration and Budget Director Adam Proppitt, who asked the committee to restore reappropriations lapsed by the interim state budget committee and to reinstate funding for ongoing capital and operating obligations.

Wu summarized the department’s role as the state’s central services organization, noting most SGF spending in the department goes to debt service and that approximately $175 million was reflected in the materials for FY26 with roughly $131 million from the State General Fund. He identified reappropriations that were lapsed by the special state budget committee, including about $8.5 million for a central licensing verification portal tied to Senate Bill 66 and a range of operating and capital items that had been carried forward into FY26 materials.

Secretary Proppitt asked the committee to restore previously appropriated but lapsed funds, characterizing several items as not new money but carryovers necessary to complete projects. He specifically requested restoration of a $4,985,000 reappropriation to finish payments related to the Docking State Office Building, saying the building is open and operational and that remaining payments reflect run‑out costs. “My ask of this committee is to restore the entirety of the 4 0.985,” Proppitt said, and pledged to provide a signed memo to the committee showing exactly how much will lapse back to the State General Fund once final accounting is complete.

Proppitt also noted statutory requirements that the Division of the Budget include $150,000 in transition funding in years with a gubernatorial transition (KSA 75‑137). He described a one‑time $15,000 request in the governor’s proposed budget for living‑quarter supplies at Cedar Crest and supported a reappropriation request for Office of Public Advocate operations that had been previously approved but partly lapsed.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about procurement systems (including procurement for Wildlife and Parks), SNAP‑related federal interactions, whether the $150,000 transition allowance remains sufficient, and other operational details; Proppitt said the department would follow up where needed.

No formal vote was taken; the chair said recommendations will be made at the committee’s next meeting.