Blog

Legislators and candidates need to address falling revenues

To hear conservative legislators and candidates talk about it, you’d think the answer is both obvious and easy – cut the budget. But Kansans deserve to know how and where, and with more specificity than the usual talking points about waste and inefficiency and the “proven” power of tax cuts to spur economic growth. And with revenues having fallen off by design, where will the state get the means to respond to legitimate needs, some of them deferred by the recession? The state universities, for example, just outlined $190 million in funding priorities to the Kansas Board of...
Read more Leave a Comment

Bloomberg reports tax cuts prompt S&P to reduce Kansas’ rating

Now instead of being told that the tax cuts will be a shot of adrenaline to the KS economy, we are hearing that our tax cuts need to be matched with spending cuts. Tax cuts shouldn’t be a justification for further cuts to school districts. The rating fell to AA, third-highest, from AA+ and the state’s appropriation-secured debt was dropped to AA- from AA, S&P said today. The outlook on both ratings is negative, which “reflects our belief that there will be additional budget pressure as income tax cuts scheduled in future years go into effect, or if...
Read more Leave a Comment

Kansas Budget blog reports on threat to education and human service programs

“A quick outline: To keep the Kansas State General Fund solvent, lawmakers surely will have to limit spending — by hundreds of millions. The education and human service programs that make up almost 90 percent of State General Fund expenses will bear the brunt of the cuts.” http://www.kansasbudget.com/2014/08/the-wall-street-journal-tells-kansans.html?spref=fb The health of the State General Fund affects school funding. School districts made sacrifices during the recession, but these budget restrictions are avoidable....
Read more Leave a Comment