Post by Logan on Feb 23, 2016 9:22:02 GMT -6
Senate embraces $8.6 million vehicle fee hike for KHP, training center
The Senate rejected a proposal to tap Kansas Department of Transportation reserves Monday instead of relying exclusively on an $8.6 million hike in the state’s vehicle registration fee to boost aid for the Kansas Highway Patrol and a Hutchinson law enforcement training center.
Instead of drawing upon KDOT resources, the chamber’s members endorsed a bill raising the $30 registration fee on all vehicles by $2 to provide money to hire KHP troopers and by $1.25 to provide for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
The $2 fee hike would generate $5.3 million annually for KPH, while the $1.25 fee increase would provide $3.3 million each year to the training facility at Hutchinson.
KHP officials have struggled to recruit state troopers because of salary compression, and leaders of the agency sought supplemental funding to hire additional officers. The current funding stream to the state training center is inadequate to sustain the facility, said Sen. Mike Petersen, a Wichita Republican and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Read more: cjonline.com/news/2016-02-22/senate-embraces-86-million-vehicle-fee-hike-khp-training-center
The Senate rejected a proposal to tap Kansas Department of Transportation reserves Monday instead of relying exclusively on an $8.6 million hike in the state’s vehicle registration fee to boost aid for the Kansas Highway Patrol and a Hutchinson law enforcement training center.
Instead of drawing upon KDOT resources, the chamber’s members endorsed a bill raising the $30 registration fee on all vehicles by $2 to provide money to hire KHP troopers and by $1.25 to provide for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
The $2 fee hike would generate $5.3 million annually for KPH, while the $1.25 fee increase would provide $3.3 million each year to the training facility at Hutchinson.
KHP officials have struggled to recruit state troopers because of salary compression, and leaders of the agency sought supplemental funding to hire additional officers. The current funding stream to the state training center is inadequate to sustain the facility, said Sen. Mike Petersen, a Wichita Republican and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Read more: cjonline.com/news/2016-02-22/senate-embraces-86-million-vehicle-fee-hike-khp-training-center