And so the game continues. Instead of “cuts”, we can expect “efficiencies” and changes to weightings and the formula per Rep. Hoffman and Sen. Abrams while waiting for thousands of jobs to come flooding into Kansas. What are your legislators saying?

“State legislators from Sumner County defended the tax cuts given by Gov. Sam Brownback, and said they believe they will end up helping the state, as they spoke at a legislative update meeting held at the Donut Shop in Wellington Saturday.

“Several people at the meeting, sponsored by the Sumner County Farm Bureau, questioned Rep. Kyle Hoffman and State Sen. Steve Abrams on funding for the state and for education.

“Hoffman said he realized that sounded like a lot of money, but he said that is just four percent of the state’s entire budget.
“’We will find some efficiencies worth that amount. I still believe we will see an increase in state revenues as a result of the Governor’s tax plan,’ he said, even though it may be taking more time than they would have liked.

“Abrams said the budget is a big deal every year. He said he would ‘support not cutting education.’ He also said there might be some changes in weighting or financing formulas.
Hoffman said even with the projections, he sees no reason to cut education.
He said the tax cuts will work and that he does not think they were too much too fast.

“Local school officials were not so sure about the financing, and they feel they will feel the brunt of budget shortfalls.

“Wellington assistant superintendent Larry Roth, who was at the meeting, said while the state may not miss four percent as Hoffman said, ‘we would definitely miss that. It would be tough for us to find $400,000.’

“Supt., Rick Weiss estimated a shortfall of nearly $300 million could end up costing the Wellington school district $400,000.

“Roth also noted that when state officials use words like ‘efficiency’, they really mean cuts.”
Read more: http://www.wellingtondailynews.com/article/20141118/News/141119283#ixzz3NbLFYIJK