Kansas Senators Start to Talk of Tax Money Solutions April 28, 2016

(AP) – Three Republican senators are proposing a bill to reinstate income taxes for more than 330,000 Kansas business owners.

The Senate Tax Committee reviewed the proposal Thursday as lawmakers try to address the state’s $290 million budget deficit in an election year.

State budget officials say reinstating the tax on farmers and business owners would bring in an estimated $170.6 million in fiscal year 2017. The bill would tax 70 percent of their income.

The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/1SvNGDR ) business groups strongly oppose reversing the tax exemption. Democrats and others say the bill doesn’t go far enough to solve the state’s budget problems.

Gov. Sam Brownback proposed the tax exemption as part of a package slashing personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013, which he said would stimulate the state’s economy.

Kansas Lawmakers Have a Full Plate April 27, 2016

(AP) – Kansas lawmakers must close shortfalls in the current and next state budgets totaling $290 million after returning from their annual spring break.

The Legislature was reconvening Wednesday morning. It was only a week after state officials and university economists issued new, more pessimistic forecast that slashed revenue projections through June 2017.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback plans to divert highway funds to general government programs and delay major road projects. He also expects to cut higher education spending.

He’s proposed selling off part of the state’s annual payments from a national legal settlement with tobacco companies to generate a one-time infusion of cash.

Lawmakers have been cold to the idea. As alternatives, he’s suggested delaying contributions to public employee pensions or making $139 million in spending cuts.

Merrick Says Equalization May never be Achieved April 11, 2016

Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick says it might be impossible to keep all Kansas School district equalized.
Equalization is providing all school districts a uniform method of paying for its students need school needs. It does not mean each district gets an equal amount of money.
“It’s a moving number. A moving target,” Merrick said Olathe Monday afternoon.
Equity, equity, equity,” That’s a problem that will never be solved, he added.
Equalization is a key element to the on-going dispute between the Kansas Supreme Court and the Legislature.
The courts ruled earlier this year that the state’s equalization plan was not constitutional. The court gave lawmakers until June 30 to come up with the plan the Justices will accept, or risk a school shutdown in the fall.
Lawmakers passed a new school funding bill and Governor Sam Brownback signed the measure last week.
“We did take a piece of the formula the court had already declared was constitutional for equalization and applied that formula to the rest of the plan. So it should pass a constitutional challenge,” Brownback said Monday.
The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on the legislature’s school funding plan on May 10.

Brownback Signs Legislature School Funding Fix April 7, 2016

(AP) – Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has signed an education funding bill designed to prevent the state Supreme Court from shutting down the state’s public schools.
Brownback announced Thursday that he had signed the measure. He took the action Wednesday.
The bill is a response to a Supreme Court ruling in February that the state isn’t providing enough aid to its poor districts. The justices threatened to shut down schools if lawmakers didn’t act by June 30.
The bill redistributes $83 million of the state’s $4 billion-plus in annual aid.
Critics contend that the bill doesn’t solve the problems identified by the court. But Brownback said in a statement that the bill arose from what he called a “delicate legislative compromise.”
He called on the court to review it with “appropriate deference”.

Kansas Considers Shorter Legislative Sessions January 29, 2016

(AP) – Kansas lawmakers say that legislative sessions need to be curtailed to expedite decisions and save taxpayer money.
The House Committee on Appropriations held a hearing Thursday to discuss a bill that would shorten the session in odd numbered years to 60 days. Even-numbered years would remain at 90 days as required by the Kansas Constitution.
Republican Rep. Marvin Kleeb from Overland Park was one of many members who testified that the shorter session would allow them to spend more time with their families and return to their businesses. They also said it would push lawmakers to discuss bills in a more efficient manner.
Kleeb added that a shorter session could save taxpayers more than $1.9 million a year.