“The ranking minority member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, said it’s clearly a significant cut in school funding, potentially more than $100 million.
“She said it appears the budget writers essentially froze school revenues at the current level while requiring local districts to pick up pension expenses.
“In addition, she said it appeared part of the plan redefines some local property tax money as part of the state’s contribution to education.
“The state is essentially telling school districts ‘we’re going to give you back your own money and make you pay for things you previously haven’t had to pay for…
REACTION TO THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR SCHOOLS
“They lower spending and also make school districts responsible for the KPERS (pension) contributions. How’s that going to get money into the classroom?”
Duane Goossen, former Kansas budget director
“He (Gov. Sam Brownback) bragged about Kansas schools on the campaign. He talked about how good they were and he defended his funding and then after his election … said school funding was the cause of the budget problems. To me it sounds like a change of tune.”
Scott Rothschild, spokesman, Kansas Association of School Boards
Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article6969329.html#storylink=cpy