Kansas House To Debate Budget

The Kansas House is preparing to debate a
proposed $14.1 billion state budget that has drawn bipartisan
criticism over withholding of some education funds.
The measure on Friday’s House agenda sticks closely to many of
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s spending recommendations for the
fiscal year that starts July 1. It would cut overall state spending
by about 4 percent, or $616 million.
But it doesn’t include $29 million sought by Brownback to cover
higher-than-expected costs incurred by school districts in the
current academic year. Without that money, districts would have to
use their reserves.
Republicans backing the bill defend it as responsible. It could
leave the state with more than $500 million in cash reserves at the
end of June 2012, depending on how much lawmakers cut taxes.