Despite Sam Brownback's claims that the Sun was Shining on Kansas during the campaign, eventually the check comes due and someone has to pay. Today, the Brownback administration announced that due to budget shortfalls (lack of revenue) a 4% cut that is somewhat across the board.
http://www2.ljworld.com/...
Topeka — Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration announced plans Tuesday to fill a $280 million shortfall in the current fiscal year’s budget, but officials insisted the cuts will not affect K-12 education, higher education or public safety.
But those cuts will do nothing to address the additional $436 million shortfall projected for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That job will fall to the Kansas Legislature, which convenes Jan. 12 for the start of the 2015 session.
But Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, issued a statement saying she was disappointed in how the cuts were made.
“We are still studying the details, but there is no doubt the governor’s announcement has put the Legislature in a difficult position,” Wagle said. “I would have preferred to see the burden spread evenly throughout the state. That would certainly be a more fair approach than picking winners or losers and asking the Legislature to fill the gap.”
The plan unveiled Tuesday calls for, among other things, sweeping $201.5 million out of various other funds into the state general fund, including $95.7 million from the state highway fund, and reducing the state’s KPERS contribution by $40.7 million.
Wagle's assessment that the Brownback decision puts the legislature in a tough spot is a bit.. perplexing.
In late July, these kind of cuts were the kind of thing that Senate Leader Wagle was campaigning for:
http://www.khi.org/...
As the leader of a conservative Republican majority in the Senate, Wagle said she is “excited” about “having a smaller government.”
Asked after the meeting whether the tax cuts were in part designed to reduce revenues and force spending cuts, Wagle said: “I can tell you that’s how I view it as a conservative Republican, yes. I think you do have to put restraints on government and on taxation and operate in the same manner as all the private businesses out there.”
Now that Wagle's wish has come true, however, other Republicans aren't quite on board.
http://ksn.com/...
Some GOP state senators already are floating tax proposals, such as delaying future cuts or reinstating income taxes for the wealthiest business owners. Brownback hasn’t publicly ruled out those ideas, but House Speaker Ray Merrick, a Stilwell Republican, has said he wants to consider spending cuts first.
Others contend they are concerned that the idea may end up raiding pensions:
http://www2.ljworld.com/...
In 2012, lawmakers passed a major overhaul of the KPERS system to address a long-term unfunded liability. It included increased contributions from both the state and current employees, as well as a change that results in reduced retirement benefits for employees hired after the first of this year.
Sullivan said the cut in KPERS payments this year is only a short-term fix, and the administration believes there needs to be additional changes to the system.
“That one, I’ll say, is the same as schools. We need to make additional reforms to KPERS,” Sullivan said. “There are a couple of ideas that have been out there between legislators we’ve talked to, so we’ll be studying those over the next couple of months.”
Among the ideas that have been proposed is to convert KPERS to a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan, an idea that employee groups and teachers unions have strongly opposed.
Which has led some Republicans to worry this could blow their cover.
http://ksn.com/...
“Governor Brownback is threatening to undo all of the hard-fought gains that we have made,” according to Senate Vice President Jeff King, chairman of his chamber’s pensions committee.
Kansas, of course, has other methods available to help add revenue to it's coffers.. without raising taxes or cutting resources.
For a look at what gets cut, you can see the proposal here.
http://media.khi.org/...
Good News? Kris Kobach loses $880. Bad News: Women and Children lose $3.9 Million.
I guess it's a matter of perspective.
That idea - raising the minimum wage & tip wage to match neighboring states - however, awaits an advocate.
Or, they could also just accept medicaid expansion.
You know, either is acceptable.