TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has advanced a plan for balancing the state budget that increases the sales tax and reverses one of Republican Governor Sam Brownback's key economic policies. The Taxation Committee voted 8-6 Tuesday to send a bill to the House for debate without a recommendation on whether members should pass it. The bill would narrow a tax break enacted in 2012 at Brownback's urging. The state exempted the profits of more than 330,000 business owners and farmers from income taxes. The committee's plan would raise $101 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1 by taxing those profits again. The plan also would boost the sales tax to 6.45 percent from 6.15 percent. Lawmakers must close a projected $406 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.
Kansas House Panel Advances Plan to Raise Taxes, Fix Budget
