The state of Kansas, which has struggled to meet revenue numbers, decided in the spring that in order to correct for bad news they would simply lower the bar of expectations. Already nearly $177 Million below yearly projections, the new formula was thought to help protect sitting Republicans from bad news.
Today, however, the new reporting guidance still fell through and the state reported one of it’s largest losses fiscal year to date — $75.5M below budget numbers for the month of May.
Bryan Lowry, reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covers the news here:
Kansas missed revenue estimates for May by about $75 million, putting the state in a budget hole again for the current fiscal year.
That comes after the state lowered revenue estimates for the current fiscal year by $177 million in April. The state missed those lowered estimates by $74.5 million in May, wiping out its projected ending balance for the year and leaving a more than $50 million budget hole. The fiscal year ends June 30.
Kansas will now be forced to rectify this shortfall by June 30 — a tall task in and of itself, but made far more complicated with recent court rulings surrounding the Kansas schools, which indicate the government isn’t doing enough to fund those efforts.
The state of Kansas has been given until June 30 to fix the issues of equity surrounding school funding, issues which outside observers may have a price tag near $40 Million.
By June 30, Governor Brownback and Kansas Republicans must find at a minimum $60M to only cover their losses, as the Kansas constitution requires a balanced budget.
Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan met with press to inform them that this was due to sluggish economic growth indicators in the state, noting concerns with construction, air industry, and oil & gas particularly.
Secretary Jordan’s talk of a sluggish economy and problems with growth seem at odds with Governor Brownback’s campaign promises of a “Shot of Adreniline” for the Kansas economy; as his concerns over sluggish economy and failed revenues aren't at all what the Governor had promised.
With advocates concerned schools may stay closed in the fall due to funding, a state running dangerously in the negative in revenue expectations, the question state house members face: is there a way to fix this without a complete admission of failure on the part of the Governor?
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
Contact the Daily Kos group Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by kosmail (members of Daily Kos only).
Contact Chris Reeves with news, tips, and/or information by email. gmail.com
Follow Chris on Twitter @tmservo433.
If you would like to publish or republish a Daily Kos diary to the group Kansas & Missouri Kossacks, please let us know by kosmail or email.
If you have a location or story that needs support from Connect! Unite! Act!, please let us know by kosmail or email.