Topeka ? Undeterred by legislators’ objections, the Kansas Department of Transportation intends to dispense another round of salary bonuses to many of its highway engineers.

“It would be unfair not to,” KDOT spokesman Marty Matthews said Friday.

At least one legislator called the agency’s plans “arrogant.”

The annual bonuses are expected to be between $6,000 and $12,000 for each recipient. They will go to an undetermined remainder of more than 300 highway engineers who are singled out for the extra pay because they are considered at risk of leaving the agency for higher pay elsewhere.

But bonuses have been a hot topic at the Statehouse in the final days of the legislative session as lawmakers grapple with a $700 million budget shortfall.

Lawmakers learned relatively late in the session that hundreds of state employees had received bonuses. The House and Senate each reacted quickly to the news with amendments to the budget bill that would eliminate or cap bonuses to state workers.

News of KDOT’s next round of payments for May and June struck a harsh chord with legislators.

“If this is true, it’s very disappointing,” said House Speaker Kent Glasscock, R-Manhattan. “When we’re trying like crazy to avoid state-employee furloughs and layoffs, something like this doesn’t help. It sends the wrong message.”

“It sounds pretty arrogant to me,” said Rep. Alan Goering, D-Medicine Lodge. “I find it ironic, too, because (KDOT secretary) Dean Carlson was in my office at 11:30 this morning, and we talked about bonuses. But he didn’t say anything about going ahead with them. That was never mentioned.”

Last week, Goering introduced an amendment that sought elimination of all bonuses from the fiscal 2003 budget. It passed the House, 122-2. The Senate on Thursday voted 21-17 to limit bonuses to $1,000.

The differences will be resolved by a conference committee after the Legislature reconvenes for its wrap-up session May 1.

KDOT is going ahead with the May and June bonuses, Matthews said, because fiscal 2003 doesn’t begin until July 1. Also, a May 2000 directive issued by Gov. Bill Graves allowing the bonuses still stands.

“We are working under the current executive directive,” he said. “Until that changes, we’ll keep doing what the directive says we’re to do.”

Graves issued the directive in an effort to retain and attract civil engineers who could make more money in the private sector.

Today, an entry-level engineer at KDOT earns $33,400 a year. In the private sector, the same engineer is likely to make $40,600, according to recent market surveys.

Graves’ directive allows KDOT to pay bonuses through 2006.

“So far, what the Legislature has done doesn’t affect anything until fiscal 2003,” said Kristin Heuertz, deputy communications director at the Governor’s Office.

KDOT has enough money in its 2002 budget to cover the bonuses, Matthews said.

“I guess I’d like to know where they’re getting the money for more bonuses,” said Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler. “This is frustrating. I can’t tell if they’re serious about the budget situation or not.”