Despite a continuing decline in income tax revenues, a state budget shortfall of $500 million, and another round of budget cuts in the near future, there are still projects being funded that can be classified as downright silly. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported on Friday that the city of Topeka will be going through with a $630,000 project to put up “Welcome to Topeka” signs on at various entry points to the Capital City.

Part of the funds will come from private sources in Topeka, but the article reports that $500,000 is from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

With all of the aforementioned budget issues, one has to wonder why any government entity would go through with such a project. Taxpayers are sure to question why this kind of money is being spent with the massive shortfalls we already face and if the money could have been transferred to another part of the budget to be spent on ‘needs’ rather than ‘wants.’

Rather than saying “Welcome to Topeka” we fear that these signs will actually be saying “Don’t do business in Kansas because we can’t prioritize our spending!”