Kansas Budget Draws Fire Over School Financing

A proposed $14 billion budget for the state of Kansas is drawing bipartisan criticism because it would withhold some education funds to push local school districts to tap their cash reserves first.

The issue for critics Tuesday was the elimination of $29 million in new money for the state’s 286 school districts to cover higher-than-expected costs during the current school year. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback endorsed the spending.

But the House Appropriations Committee removed the money before endorsing a bill containing its proposed budget Monday night. The change would force districts to absorb the costs and potentially dip into their reserves.

The state’s overall spending would drop about four percent, or roughly $650 million, during the fiscal year that begins July 1.