Kansas legislators negotiating over a $14
billion state budget feel they’re now making some progress.
Three senators and three House members resumed their talks
Tuesday and settled some small budget issues.
They’ve still got dozens of differences between the two chambers
to resolve. Education funding remains a big issue.
But leaders of both the House and Senate teams said they see
some movement.
The budget will eliminate a projected shortfall that has
approached $500 million and could leave a small cushion of cash
reserves.
Overall spending is likely to drop between 5 percent and 6
percent, or by $770 million to $870 million.
Lawmakers can’t adjourn their annual session until they wrap up
work on the budget. Tuesday was their 82nd day in session, out of
90 scheduled.