Researchers have found that the bond debt in Kansas has more than tripled in size since the late 1990s.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/2ehjgrT) reports that legislative researchers created a chart showing the debt levels stands at more than $5 billion in the 2017 fiscal year. From fiscal year 1997 to 2017, the total amount of bond debt increased by 336.4 percent, or $3.8 billion.

The bond debt has increased under both Republican and Democratic governors.

Bond debt for general government has rocketed upward by 4368 percent over the past 20 years. General government includes the Department of Administration, Commerce, Insurance and pension bonds.

The debt of the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees the state universities, rose by 1062 percent. Only public safety saw a debt load decline.