Kansas Senate Approves Budget

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – The Kansas Senate has approved a $14 billion

state budget bill for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Tuesday’s 36-3 vote sends the bill to the House, which will

debate its own version of the 2012 budget later in the week.

The Senate measure would reduce aid to the state’s 289 school

districts by $226 per student – slightly less than the $232

per-student cut proposed in the House budget bill.

Senators amended the bill during debate to make an additional

$5.7 million in cuts. It would give the state an $8.1 million

ending balance on June 30, 2012 – slightly more than the $7.5

million sought by Gov. Sam Brownback in his proposed budget.

The $14 billion in spending includes about $6 billion from state

revenues.