Kansas Senate To Debate Budget

The Kansas Senate is preparing to debate a
proposed $14.2 billion state budget that’s slightly more generous
than one proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback.
The budget bill on the Senate’s calendar for Wednesday still
cuts overall spending by almost 4 percent, or $572 million, during
the fiscal year that begins July 1.
But it includes funds for social service programs that Brownback
didn’t include in his spending recommendations. It includes an
additional $16 million for children’s programs and nearly $9
million to boost the pay of state workers whose salaries are below
the pay for people with similar jobs in the private sector.
The spending blueprint would leave about $460 million in cash
reserves at the end of June 2013.
The House approved a tighter proposed budget last week.