Kansas Senate To Consider Sales, Tobacco Tax Hikes

Proposals to increase Kansas’ sales and tobacco taxes are being considered by a state Senate committee.

Wichita Republican and Chairman Les Donovan says the Assessment and Taxation Committee will have three days of hearings on a tax bill, starting Tuesday.

The bill contains proposals from Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson.

It would increase the state’s sales tax from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent.

The measure also would raise the cigarette tax by 55 cents a pack, from 79 cents to $1.34. The tax on other tobacco products would rise from 10 percent to 40 percent.

Parkinson proposed those increases as a way to help the state close a projected $467 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1.