Amy Warhurst
for House of Representatives District 90
Amy Warhurst
Welcome,
Kansas has always been my home. It is where I was born and raised, and where I nurtured and educated my three wonderful children. I enrolled in Kansas universities to receive three of my degrees: Horticultural Therapy (BS), Elementary Education (BS), and Special Education (MS). (I also hold an EdD in Education with an emphasis in special education from the University of New England.)
I believe our state continues to have immense growth potential. However, for Kansas to achieve its full potential, there will be hard work ahead. Tough decisions may have to be made. I am ready to make those decisions. I will fight hard to reduce property taxes, find ways to make living in Kansas more affordable, promote education, and say, "NO!" to the construction of data centers. I am ready to work hard for the citizens of District 90.
By investing in and providing the necessary resources, we can help shape a brighter future for our communities and state. Together, we can nurture Kansas.
Thank You!
Amy
Amy Warhurst, EdD
I am back at school, starting August 6, 2026. Don't worry, I will still be out and about, and of course, you can email me anytime with your questions.
Key Initiatives
Taxes and Affordability
The current amount that Kansans are paying in property taxes, at fuel pumps, and at grocery stores is no longer affordable. Farmers and ranchers, as well as single-family homeowners, are struggling to meet these financial demands.
Land that is devoted to agricultural use is taxed at 30%, since it is not based on the fair market value of the property. Single-family homes are taxed at 11% of fair market value, but so are multi-family residences; commercial property owners are taxed at 25% of fair market value.
The prices at the fuel pumps keep going higher, with only small pockets of relief that never stick too long. Sticker shock continues when people go to the grocery stores. Families are having to decide how much they can afford to purchase, and hope that it lasts long enough to feed everyone for longer than one meal.
Farmers and ranchers, especially, as well as single-family homeowners are having to make tough decisions regarding what they can continue to afford versus what personal expenses they will have to remove or cancel. One way to help working Kansans is to find a more viable and accurate way to assess the value of each property. It is critical to Kansans to promote a firmer financial standing.
(Kansas Real Property Assessment Classes & Rates. ksopendata.ksrevenue.gov › api › views )
K - 12 Education
As an educator, I understand the daily challenges faced within our schools, from student disengagement to funding. I am dedicated to advocating for full school funding, developing effective measures of student readiness, and ensuring that all students demonstrate academic proficiency before advancing to the next grade. I am committed to continuing my education so that I can continue to work hard for education, students, and teachers Together, we can create a more equitable and effective educational system for our future generations.
Other educational areas that need consideration:
* Post-secondary institutions continue to seek to raise the fees for attendance. While I understand that there may be a need to increase their fees, it seems to me that they are pricing themselves right out of potential student growth. Institutions are asking to pass on expenses to incoming students, many of whom will have to take on student loans. My question here is: have these post-secondary institutions trimmed the fat, so to speak, before asking for approval to increase their fees? Who is overseeing the institutions to ensure that the monetary increase is absolutely necessary?
* Teacher Safety has been an increasing issue within the academic setting. Teachers and staff are being punched, spit on, and choked, not to mention having jewelry ripped off of them and having classroom furniture thrown at them. In some cases, entire classrooms are being evacuated because one student has become so out of control that it is no longer safe for the other students to be in the same room. Teachers are being asked to support students through trauma-informed training and social-emotional and character development lessons. The Kansas Department of Education has standards for all academic grades to guide teachers through the lessons. Honestly, these standards are set for Tier One students, the students who need some guidance, not the students who need specialized help and assistance with their behaviors. What I would like to see: Teachers are professionals, and they deserve to be treated that way. When going to a hospital, signs are posted informing people that if they act inappropriately, the consequence will be either a citation to appear in court or an arrest. So why don't we have something like this in schools to ensure the safety of the teachers and staff?
No Data Centers
While Data Centers promise benefits to the local area, the cost to the communities affected exceed the benefits. Data centers drain the natural resources that many individuals in our community rely upon. Water, one of the most precious resources in Kansas, will need to be diverted to data centers, as it is used in the cooling process. According to recent research, large data centers can use upwards of 5 million gallons of water per day. (Yanez-Barnuevo, 2025) Kansas's fatigued water reservoirs will struggle to meet this demand while also trying to sustain water use on farm and ranch land, as well as the needs of the local communities.
(Yanez-Barnuevo, Miguel. (2025). Data Centers and Water Consumption. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption)
Food for Thought
Why is education so important to me? Well, that is a loaded question, so buckle in.
In 2000, I graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Horticulture Therapy. I worked with different groups of individuals to provide a therapeutic outlet for them. School-age students openly talked about their feelings, individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness were given tools and techniques that allowed them to continue with a full-filled life without having to give up something that is important to them, as well as elderly in nursing homes finding comfort in taking care of something living and being able to share memories. It is indeed, as rewarding calling.
After having my own children and watching their educational struggles, I went back to college. KSU, here I come and degree in Elementary Education. After having passed all the required tests, I also took the endorsement testing for 7-12 English/Language Arts. Teaching is wonderful, but how can I do more? Fort Hays State University and the Master’s of Special Education program became my next stop, graduating in 2018. With my Master’s degree, I have been able to help so many students whose voices aren’t always heard. But how could I do more? I began my Doctorate in Education, with my chosen emphasis being special education and college and career readiness. I graduated from the University of New England in 2024 with my full EdD.
Our students deserve to be served by someone who knows both sides of the struggle. All three of my kiddos graduated from public schools and were identified as needing special education services and supports. I was that parent who wanted my kiddos to receive the very best, and I was definitely the special education teacher who was the ‘Momma Bear’ to all of the students who were in the program. Those students needed to know that someone in the building was there, working for them, making sure that they were heard.
Education needs to be funded! Vouchers for private schools is not the answer – private schools are not required to enroll students who have IEPs or any behavior issues. If the private school does enroll students with IEPs, it is the special education department in the home school district that will have to provide services. Let me give you an example: If a private school in Wichita enrolls a student who has an IEP and lives in one of the suburbs, the special education department in that suburb will have to drive into Wichita to the private school and provide services. Since special education isn’t fully funded already and these identified students are receiving services in their home school, who is going to pay for all of the travel and other services for, possibly, one student in a private school?
(Did you know, the Kansas Legislature wrote in their own loophole to justify not ensuring that special education is fully funded?)
Special Education State Aid Calculation
Special Education State Aid is calculated as reimbursement for the “excess costs” associated with providing special education services. The State Department of Education determines the excess cost both statewide and, starting in SY 2024-2025, for each individual school district before distributing Special Education State Aid. Statute requires a reimbursement rate for Special Education State Aid at 92.0 percent of total state excess costs, but provides for prorating state aid if the appropriation for Special Education State Aid does not equal 92.0 percent of excess costs (KLRD, 2026) Did you see it? BUT PROVIDES FOR PRORATING STATE AID IF THE APPROPRIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STATE AID DOES NOT EQUAL 92.0 PERCENT OF EXCESS COSTS. )
I will be the ‘Momma Bear’ in the Kansas Legislature for students. I will work hard to ensure loopholes that take advantage of legislative power are removed and students who deserve a LOUD voice and to be treated as EQUALS receive that treatment!
#Warhurst for 90
Property tax relief?
It's going to be difficult when ...
Artist rendering of new facility
On December 22, 2025, Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas City Chiefs announced this well-funded agreement that is supposed to bring a lot of money into Kansas.
The construction phase is set to utilize 20,000+ jobs with a large economic impact. But, once construction ends, what will happen with these employees? Yes, the shear number of jobs created for the construction is massive, but what about once it’s built? And will there really be the creation of an additional 20,000+ jobs or will those jobs be from employees who have been hired by a general contractor? Anyone can say that there will be the creation of lots of jobs, but are these really new jobs or is this a spin to make the deal sound good?
The development of not only the stadium, in Wyandotte County, but also the headquarters and training facilities in Johnson County, is set to bring in more money to the state. According to the state of Kansas, both of these developments will bring in entertainment, dining, shopping, offices, hotels, residences, etc. Oh? Is this movement of about 30 miles supposed to bring in all of this extra income to Kansas? Or, can one logically think that people arriving in the Kansas City area to watch football may continue with their normal plans? Maybe moving to a closer hotel, but maybe it would be cheaper to pay for parking? I mean if I’m paying for parking anyway, I may not want to spend a lot of money on a hotel that is close. (Yes, I may be splitting hairs, but I hope you see my point).
“The total budget for stadium development is estimated at approximately $3,000,000,000, with an additional $1,000,000,000 budgeted for ancillary development. Development costs will be financed through public and private funding commitments. Any cost overruns will be solely the responsibility of the Chiefs. Public funding commitments are capped at $2,775,000,000 and will be primarily funded by the proceeds from the issuance of tax-exempt special obligation bonds pursuant to the Kansas sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds financing act. K.S.A. § 12-17,160 et. seq. Public funding for stadium development shall not exceed the lesser of 60% of total stadium development costs or $1,800,000,000, with private funding required to cover no less than 40% of total stadium development costs. ” (Boatright, 2025)
More on STAR bonds. According to KansasCommerce.gov, “Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds are a financing tool that allows Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.”
LONG STORY SHORT: Chief's stadium will be the most wonderful thing in Kansas! Um, NO! Apparently, it is more important to bring a NFL team to Kansas, but the cost to Kansans may not be worth it. To me, not worth it. The franchise was given a multi-year exemption from paying taxes, Kansans will shoulder that cost. It's supposed to be fantastic - with roughly 60% of the massive bill being funded by Kansas – payable by taxpayers who are thought to be rushing to the new stadium to watch games. And while Kansas is subsidizing the building of all of this, Kansans will probably not be receiving any property tax relief. Since this a STAR bond project, all of the taxes collected around the area will NOT be going towards Medicaid expansion, education, child/family welfare, and the list goes on.
Check out the votes on the state website, as there were members of the house and the senate who voted in favor of the STAR bill and then voted AGAINST an assessment limit for property tax. Fifty-two house members and nine senators took your money to subsidize football and not offer you relief. (sentinelksmo.org)
https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/874/56
https://kansasreflector.com/.../kansas-legislators-to.../
https://missouriindependent.com/.../chiefs-kansas.../
Boatright, J. (2025) Breaking Down the Key Terms of the Chief’s Move to Kansas. https://sandbergphoenix.com/breaking-down-the-key-terms.../
https://www.kansascommerce.gov/.../community.../star-bonds/
Did you know that the Hunt Family, owner of the KC Chiefs is worth about $24.8 billion? Can someone please explain to me why we had to offer such a tax cut and Kansans had to shoulder the burden for such a wealthy family? https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article313949104.html
Still saying 'NO' to Data Centers
Google has been eyeballing Barber County for the building of a data center for some time. On Friday, the attached article was on Kake News' website. Citizens in Barber County have not had their questions answered by Google or whoever is speaking for Google . Simple questions like what about the stormwater run-off? This is an important question. If you recall, earlier this summer there was an immense amount of rain in late June and the proposed area flooded. Construction in that area without making appropriate adjustments in the dirt work will increase the potential flooding in new spots.
Another unanswered question is regarding the local aquifer. Barber County draws water mainly from the Great Bend Prairie Aquifer. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, the High Plains Aquifer includes the Ogallala, Great Bend Prairie, and the Equus Bed Aquifers. This network serves western and central Kansas and is the public water source for cities such as Wichita, Hutchinson, Garden City, and many more. There is a proposed data center in western Sedgwick County, and it will sit over the Equus Bed Aquifer. So, if both data centers are actually approved, the citizens in Sedgwick County are going to be hit with a double whammy.
Think about this. In the Kake News article, it states that Google “would represent a long-term investment that could bring new tax revenue, jobs, and economic opportunities to the region.” Well, that is the biggest load of bull pocky that I’ve heard in a while. When I went exploring, I found that companies like Google are eligible for tax incentives. Under the Industrial Revenue Bond, companies are tax-free from any taxes for a period of time. “Interest payable on all IRBs is exempt from Kansas income taxation.” Wow, here we are, citizens of Kansas, almost begging for property tax breaks, and the state is encouraging companies to come here and not be taxed for what could be 10+ years. While I know that I’m not a financial guru and I may have missed something, the mere thought that Sedgwick County may be in a position to help citizens with property tax and they are choosing to help a large company instead has me frustrated. So, no new tax revenue. Jobs? Only for a while – during the construction – but there will be only a handful of people working at the data center. And I doubt that there will be economic opportunities in the region when no one will really benefit. Actually, one could argue that it ends up costing the area more money. Yep, my water bill is already high in Valley Center when it’s coming from Wichita. Think about how much higher it could be.
https://geokansas.ku.edu/kansas-high-plains-aquifer-atlas .
https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/taxes-and-financing/irb/
KPERS - Kansas public employees required retirement fund
A question came up while I was out canvasing. A retired Police Chief asked about KPERS, the monthly payments that come from it and why there hasn’t been an increase in the money sent.
Background: For those of you who are not familiar with that acronym, it is the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. KPERS is a mandatory program that all public employees in Kansas contribute to in every pay period. Employees are required to put 6% of their paycheck into the system, this is what KPERS a prefunded retirement system. In addition, employees receive an annual interest of 4% quarterly to their account, however it can depend on the investment return. The KPERS payment is pretax for federal income taxes, however it is after tax for State of Kansas incomes taxes. (Pre-tax deductions lower the current taxable income, however you will pay taxes on the money when it is paid out. Therefore, employees will be paying Federal taxes every month when they receive their KPERS checks.)
Now to the question: Why has there not been a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to the monthly KPERS payments? Basically, since KPERS is prefunded through your service as a public employee, you are now being paid out the money the state required and nothing more. Now, this is only true for KPERS tiers 1 & 2. KPERS tier 3 has the option to self-funded COLA at 1% or 2%. To be in KPERS tier 3, you would have had to start working as a public employee after January 1, 2015.
Why does this matter: Many us who have been public employees for a while and may be looking towards retirement where not given the opportunity to add more monies into our KPERS. For example, if you started as a state employee right out of college or high school and are now retired, your contributions started in the 1980s (or earlier) and ended in the 2010s-2020s. Within that time frame, there has been a HUGE increase in the cost of living across all facets of daily life. Can the 6% of your income from the 1990s cover much now in the 2026? Absolutely not.
Who can help: Only the Legislative branch of the State of Kansas can help. They have the ability to inject funding into KPERS for the benefit of the public employees who have retired. According to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature, the last time the State granted a COLA increase to retirees was in 1998 and it was at 3 increase%. That’s 28 years since the last time the legislation actually did something to help retired public employees. There have been groups who have and will continue to push for COLAs for retired public employees. Every year, the legislature has the opportunity to inject money, however, no such action has been taken.
Solution: It is high time that the State Legislature inject another increase into KPERS. While I would love to see an increase across the board, specific age groups definitely need the injection more than employees you are still working currently. I would also love to see KPERS allow tier 1 & 2 employees to stat putting in an extra 1% or 2% towards their KPERS.
(The following public employees are required to invest in KPERS: all regular state employees, including some university positions and state correctional staff, all public school teachers, administrators, and support staff, all county, city, and local government employees [if they are with an affiliated employer], certain designated public safety and law enforcement employees, and justices and judges across the Kansas judicial systems)
https://www.kspers.gov/members/
https://www.kansas-shl.org/index.php/resolutions/39th-session-resolutions/3903-2/3903-brief/
Please email me at warhurstfor90@yahoo.com with your questions and topics you are interested in. I look forward to hearing from you!
To be honest, this website is a work in progress. Just like me, just like everyone else. We all grow and change as life is unpredictable.
Family is extremely important. I have worked hard to make sure that my children have a safe place to grown and thrive, I will do the same for yours.
“Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
John F. Kennedy
Travels around the District
Have you ever wondered around District 90. It is big, it diverse, it is wonderful. Here are a few photos from the district.
Farmer's Markets - that's where it's at! YUMMY!!!
Volunteers Needed:
If you are interested in helping Amy canvas during this election season, please let her know.
