KS governor signs budget but vetoes pension payment

(AP) Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed an extra $51 million payment to the state’s public pension system while signing the bulk of the next state budget approved by the Legislature.

The Democratic governor said Monday that an additional payment to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System is not prudent with other parts of state government facing additional needs. The extra payment was meant to offset past instances in which the state shorted its annual contributions.

She also used her power to veto individual budget items to reject several other items included by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The budget provides more than $18.3 billion for state government for the fiscal year beginning in July. It includes a pay raise for state workers and extra money for prisons, social services and higher education.