New dashboard shows the scope and uses of federal funding streams in Kansas

LAWRENCE — The Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas published a new data dashboard showing the flow of federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into Kansas. As of March 2024, over $11.5 billion has been expended across the state through programs funded by the CARES Act and ARPA. 

This tool offers a transparent look at the funding released through these programs, and the dashboard can help users understand how that funding has affected different parts of Kansas.

"I believe this is an important step toward showing Kansans how their tax dollars are being spent. The more transparency and accountability, the better," said former Kansas lawmaker Jim Slattery, who helped formulate the project. "I believe it is very important for the people of Kansas to know how many tax dollars they send to Topeka and to the federal government in Washington, D.C., and to know how much money flows back to the different counties in Kansas from Topeka and Washington. This information may be surprising to many Kansans." 

The dashboard shows funds received by county, by fund and by spending categories such as child care, education and economic revitalization.

Users can filter spending data by funding program, including both CARES Act and ARPA programs. Expenditures include $7.38 billion in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans under the CARES Act, which accounts for about 64% of total Kansas federal expenditures to date. As of September 2023, 99% of PPP loans in Kansas had been forgiven.   

Users can also look at county totals and spending per capita alongside statewide figures. State and local governments have until Dec. 31, 2026, to spend funds awarded by ARPA. Most CARES Act spending was concluded by the end of 2022. The dashboard will be updated as spending reports are submitted to the federal government.  

“Determining the extent to which geographic areas are benefiting from federal funds is always an important, if challenging, public policy metric," said Chris Courtwright, member of the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform. “The new data dashboard rolled out by KU’s IPSR provides a fascinating look at two of the most recent federal funding streams coming into Kansas provided under CARES and ARPA. Keeping this modeling capacity updated for additional federal expenditures from these and other federal revenue streams would be especially useful for policymakers at all levels.” 

The Kansas Office of Recovery funded this project. IPSR staff will continue to maintain and update the dashboard through at least 2027. Should users have questions, ideas, or comments, they can contact the Kansas State Data Center at IPSR by email.