The state has received its annual tobacco settlement payment.
Since the first payment in 1999, Kansas has received over $1.36 billion from participating tobacco companies for various purposes, including offsetting costs of tobacco-related illnesses and diseases normally shouldered by residents through government-paid medical benefits. The Kansas Legislature has sent most of the money to various children’s programs.
This year’s payment is over $61 million. This actually reimburses the state for payments made to programs last year, simply because of when the money comes to Kansas in relation to the state’s annual budget cycle.
