“Look back 30 years. What did it cost to purchase a car? Eggs? Electricity? Blue jeans? A house? Certainly less than today. Most of us know instinctively that prices will likely be quite a bit higher 30 years in the future. Although Americans are currently enjoying a reprieve in the cost of a gallon of gas, we would be fooling ourselves to believe the price will never again rise above two dollars.

“State government services and programs are no different. Over time, state spending goes up. That’s normal. Inflation pushes routine expenses higher. Populations grow, requiring more services. Greater numbers of students show up at school. The ever-rising price of healthcare drives a steady increase in Medicaid costs…

“Some legislators will attempt to cut spending to fit the emaciated revenue stream. But resetting expenses to some lower level carries very real consequences. Kansas courts have ruled that schools already receive unconstitutionally inadequate funding. Further cuts will hurt classrooms and kids. Reducing stretched human service programs affects the most vulnerable Kansans. Less highway maintenance means more potholes.

“What will it be? Will the decision-makers put all their time and energy into downsizing schools, highway maintenance, and public safety programs, or will they make a realistic assessment of what it costs to pay for key services and figure out a fair way to fund that? The Kansas legislative session has begun. Our lawmakers are choosing for us now.”

http://www.hayspost.com/2015/01/15/insight-kansas-spendings-not-the-culprit-for-kansas-budget-woes/