State Treasurer Describes Her Office‘s Services

Photo by Ann Palmer

While the office of State Treasurer for the state of Kansas is an elected position, the responsibilities of the job are far less known than most of the state-wide offices. That‘s certainly not for lack of passion and excitement that State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins brings to her job.

"When you are the state treasurer, you don‘t get invited to speak to groups very often," Jenkins quipped in her opening remarks. "Most people don‘t know what we do for you."

Jenkins outlined the five departments within the office of state treasurer.

Most people think of the state treasurer as the manager of the state‘s money,‖ Jenkins said. "We see about $19 bil-lion come through here every year from the Department of Revenue and other state agencies who collect fees."

The office of the state treasurer also manages the funds for the state‘s Learning Quest post secondary education in-vestment program.

In addition, the state treasurer seeks to return various forms of unclaimed property to the rightful owners and heirs. The treasurer has the authority to take possession of specified types of abandoned personal property and it becomes the custodian in perpetuity which preserves the right of the right of the original owner or other persons to claim the property