More changes necessary to balance budget
After the April 17th Consensus Revenue Estimate results revealed far less revenue than previously expected, more changes to 2010 budget need to be made. Representative Yoder notes that to compensate for this unexpected shortfall, more than $328 million in adjustments to the 2010 budget are needed. “We’re obviously going to have to do something on the revenue side of the picture,” Yoder said. “I think there are some things the governor has proposed that we may be willing to accept.”
Rep. Yoder and Rep. Feuerborn amidst budget deliberations
"Everything must be on the table.
That includes K-12 education, which represents more than half of the state budget but has taken a cut of less than 0.1 percent so far. In this economy and budget environment, surely even the biggest public school boosters can see a problem with devastating social services, public safety and other areas of the budget so K-12 can remain all but untouched.
That said, lawmakers should use more than a sharp instrument to address the shortfall. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' proposal to find $30 million by delaying the planned phase-in of tax cuts still has merit. It was encouraging to hear House Appropriations Committee Chairman Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, term that among "very reasonable ideas" when he met with The Eagle editorial board last week.
While legislators proved prescient last year in not counting on gambling money that didn't materialize, they now might be able to rely on some or all of a forecast $50 million in gambling fees in good conscience. Work has begun on Dodge City's Boot Hill Casino and Resort. Three and four development groups submitted bids for casinos in Sumner and Wyandotte counties, respectively. At the very least, as Yoder suggested, any gaming dollars could fill out what promises to be a sparse ending balance."
Read more:
http://www.kansas.com/781/story/778457.html
http://www.cjonline.com/news/2009-04-01/more_state_cuts_possible
