A state panel consisting of the Kansas governor and legislative leaders has authorized an additional $231 million in bonds to help pay for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility under construction near Manhattan.

The State Finance Council’s authorization Tuesday is contingent on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreeing that Kansas won’t be asked to pay any more for the estimated $1.15 billion facility. Kansas lawmakers initially authorized $105 million in bonds when the state was awarded the project in 2009.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the Finance Council in November balked at authorizing additional bonds until Congress appropriated money to fund its share of the project.

Congress approved funding for Homeland Security in December that includes $400 million for the remaining federal share of the NBAF project.

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(Information from: Lawrence Journal-World)