Two events announced in Topeka on Thursday will greatly affect ongoing efforts to set the state’s financial ship on a correct and steady course, as well as how to rewrite the way public schools are funded.
Foremost was the Kansas Supreme Court’s order for the state to increase spending for public schools. How much of an increase, the justices didn’t say, but attorneys for four Kansas school districts suing the state to increase school funding told the Associated Press it likely would require a boost of about $800 million per year.
With projected budget shortfalls already totaling $1.1 billion for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, that additional responsibility is humbling.
Also on Thursday, February tax revenue came in at $37 million more than projected, leaving this year’s deficit at a touch over $380 million. One thing to note: The revenue “boost” comes against a projection that was revised downward last November.
Set the bar low enough, and you’re bound to get over.
The outlook: By June 30, legislators must find a way to end fiscal 2017 with a balanced budget, square up the budget for the next two years, and find more money for K-12 schools.
Last month, legislators were on the verge of passing a budget that would have addressed the $1.1 billion budget gap by restoring most of the 2012-13 income tax cuts.
Gov. Sam Brownback, however, vetoed the measure.
To their credit, House members voted to override the governor’s veto.
The Senate, however, fell three votes shy of mustering the courage to stand against the governor. Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, sided with the Governor.
Before the vote, talk centered on ill-advised spending cuts and revenue generation through internal borrowing, selling off tobacco lawsuit lawsuit proceeds earmarked for children’s programs and minor tax and fee increases.
AS FOR EDUCATION, it is noteworthy that in addition to ordering an increase in state aid, the justices struck down the 2015 law that enacted block-grant funding for schools instead of the per-pupil funding formula. As Rep. Kent Thompson has maintained, “The only thing wrong with the (per student) formula is that it isn’t funded,” as it was designed.
It has been in place since the 1990s.
Will legislators again try to restore income tax cuts?
One thing is certain, they can’t throw up their hands and crawl in a hole, as the governor seems to have done when he told the AP: “… lawmakers have a chance to pursue ‘transformative educational reform’’’ — whatever that is. The AP added: Brownback “called for new school choice measures, without being more specific.”
That’s not leadership; that’s passing the buck.
— Bob Johnson
