TOPEKA — A House committee Thursday rejected Kansas University's bid for $17.5 million in bonding authority to build apartments for basketball players.
State Rep. Amanda Grosserode, R-Lenexa, called the project "incredibly extravagant."
State Rep. Allan Rothlisberg, R-Grandview Plaza, said he thought KU's sports enterprises were wealthy enough to build the project on their own.
A motion to approve the bonds by the House Education Budget Committee failed on a 3-5 vote.
Earlier, KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said the apartments, planned to be built near Allen Fieldhouse, were needed as a recruiting tool and to monitor and protect student-athletes from professional agents.
KU is seeking authority from the state to issue bonds for the building, which would be paid off by the university. Of the 66 apartments in the building, 32 would be for student-athletes and 34 for students who are not athletes. The project would also include a commons area, kitchen, parking lot and half-court basketball court.
The committee's recommendation against the $17.5 million in bonds will next go to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration.