sales tax

Few people in Kansas understand the intricacies of state finances better than Duane Goossen. He served as state budget director for 12 years. As our guest commentator, he talks about the troubling state of the Kansas economy.

Here's a summary of the day's Kansas news headlines from the Associated Press as compiled by the KPR news staff.

Here's a summary of the day's Kansas news headlines from the Associated Press.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says the sales tax and tobacco tax increases he signed into law aren't really tax hikes at all, if viewed in the proper context.

Governor Brownback asks Kansans to view tax hikes within a larger context. He says the bills don't really represent a tax increase because of past income tax cuts he promoted in 2012 and 2013.

The plan would raise $423 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Here's a summary of the day's Kansas news headlines from the Associated Press.

It's all but certain Kansas lawmakers will pass tax increases before wrapping up their business for the year. But which taxes will be raised - and by how much? That's what legislators are struggling with, as the session drags on into overtime.

The state of Kansas still needs a tax plan to fill a $400 million budget hole but so far, lawmakers have been unable to reach consensus on which taxes to raise and, by what amount. So, the legislature heads into overtime this week, as they try to reach some kind of compromise.

UPDATE: This plan has failed in committee. / As Kansas lawmakers try to fill a huge hole in the state budget, one GOP legislator is pushing a plan to raise the state state sales tax by a whole penny. However, Wichita Republican Representative Steve Brunk wants to keep intact the current income tax exemption for 330,000 business owners and farmers.