Budget Advances at Kansas Statehouse

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The Kansas Senate has approved a bill for balancing balance the next state budget. 

The vote Thursday night was 24-15. The measure eliminates a projected deficit of nearly $200 million in the state’s $16.1 billion spending blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

 

The action came hours after the House approved its own budget-balancing plan, 68-56. Legislative leaders expect to appoint negotiators from each chamber to draft the final version.

 

The bill from each Republican-dominated chamber contains most of GOP Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposals for juggling funds and capturing unanticipated savings. Both also accept Brownback’s proposal to raise $25 million from selling off the assets of state economic development agency.

 

Democrats in both chambers said the measures represented poor fiscal management.