TOPEKA — University of Kansas officials face questions from two legislative committees about using $327 million in out-of-state bonds to finance campus construction projects.
The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee were having separate hearings Tuesday on the financing for what the university is calling its central district project. The project includes the construction of new science buildings and student housing.
Both committees have included spending restrictions for the university in legislation for keeping the state budget balanced through June 2017. Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Tim Caboni said Monday that the university is looking forward to answering questions.
The university formed a nonprofit corporation which then had Wisconsin’s Public Finance Authority issue the bonds without legislative approval. Some Republican lawmakers are upset over the lack of legislative oversight.