Other states are enjoying increases in revenue, but not Kansas. “The U.S. Census Bureau released its annual survey of state government tax collections earlier this month, and the results show an overall growth in revenue. State tax revenue across the entire country increased 2.2 percent, up to $865 billion in fiscal year 2014 from $847 billion in 2013. “Kansas had the third-largest percentage drop in total tax revenue during the same time period. According to the survey, the state’s revenue declined 3.8 percent, from $7.6 billion to $7.3 billion.” Read more here: http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-26/census-report-kansas-had-third-largest-revenue-drop-among-all-states-last-year...
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Budget problems continue
The state’s budget problems affect its ability to fund schools properly, and the bad news continues to flow. “Another dire budget forecast this week shows that expenses for the budget year beginning July 1 exceed expected revenues by $400 million. “Irresponsible income tax cuts the Legislature passed in 2012 and 2013 created the hole in the state’s general fund. The governor and lawmakers have tried to fill it by shoveling in money from the designated highway fund and with other unwise gimmicks…The tax cuts will cause the state to lose almost $1 billion in revenue for the upcoming...
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Leave a Comment Leave local elections in spring
“Our local elections should remain non-partisan. They should stay in the spring so that voters can focus on really important issues in their communities and not worry about partisan politics… “But this won’t happen, because a bill written by Republican extremists is pending right now in the Legislature to move all elections to the fall — even though no one at the local level in Kansas asked for it. No one… “A decade from now, when we see our local races bogged down in politics, rather than in discussion of important issues, voters will be sorry. They’ll wish...
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Leave a Comment Teaching candidates more difficult to attract
“Something that I believe is being overlooked as we public school educators reel from the assault upon schools by our governor and legislators is the fact that high-quality candidates for classroom teaching are becoming more and more difficult to attract… “I recently had an exchange with a young man that I will not soon forget – and an alert that prompted this message. As I made my pitch to this amiable and articulate fellow, the totally unexpected response caught me by surprise: “Why would anyone want to become a teacher in Kansas today?”… “Once again, I am reminded...
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