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Spending Boost in K-12 Study Would Make Balancing the Kansas Budget More Difficult

The Kansas Statehouse. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)
The Kansas Statehouse. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)

A study on education funding says Kansas legislators should infuse up to $2 billion more into schools over five years. Complying with the report could require budget cuts or tax increases, which lawmakers had hoped to avoid. Stephen Koranda reports.


Last year, Kansas lawmakers had a monumental fight before increasing taxes. With the hefty price tag in the new study, Democratic Senator Anthony Hensley says they need to keep their options open.

 

“I’m not advocating for a tax increase, but I think you’ve got to be flexible and open minded when you look at this issue," Hensley says.

 

Hensley says lawmakers could possibly still comply with a court ruling for more funding without raising taxes.

 

Republican Senator Molly Baumgardner says there are a lot of questions about the report’s calculations.

 

“Does that mean we’re going to add one point whatever billion next year? I don’t see that’s possible at this time," Baumgardner says. "Folks want to get a grasp of reality.”

 

The author of the study will be answering lawmaker questions Monday.

Stephen Koranda is KPR's Statehouse reporter.