Kansas lawmakers passed a budget and wrapped up the session over the weekend. The bill contains some spending increases, including pay raises from 2.5 to 5 percent for certain state employees. It’s targeted at workers who have not received a raise in recent years.
Democratic Senator Anthony Hensley said some state workers haven’t had a raise for almost a decade.
“That is long overdue and well deserved for our state employees,” said Hensley.
Some conservatives opposed the budget and the tax increase that funded it, saying lawmakers should have looked more at cutting spending. Republican Senator Dennis Pyle said the tax hike will affect the economy.
“It’s going to have a massive effect, an impact, on what small businesses do and job growth in this state,” said Pyle.
Others lawmakers pointed out that efforts to cut spending failed because there weren’t enough supporters. Legislators reversed many of the state’s 2012 tax cuts to help balance the budget.
After a ceremonial final day later this month, the 2017 session will tie for the longest in state history at 114 days.