The Kansas House Appropriations Committee will start the process of reviewing new budget numbers this week. As KPR’s Stephen Koranda reports, a new estimate lowers the state’s projected tax collections by nearly $300 million over the next two years.
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House and Senate budget negotiators have already formed a budget agreement that would have needed a tax increase to balance. This latest forecast pushes their budget even further out of balance.
Lawmakers will now have to decide if they want to use tax increases, budget cuts or both to fill the gap. So far, tax increase proposals haven’t gained much traction.
Governor Sam Brownback’s budget director, Shawn Sullivan, says they will have a new budget proposal ready for the House committee.
“My staff and I, our target is it have it out by Thursday and that will include a reduction or revision of spending,” says Sullivan.
Sullivan says the governor won’t propose cuts to K-12 schools or higher education.