Lawmakers Consider Plans To Raise Sales Tax

Kansas legislators are focusing in on raising the state’s sales tax to solve budget problems.

Debates on tax issues were expected Thursday in both the House and Senate.

There is a plan in each chamber for increasing the sales tax from 5.3 percent to 6.3 percent. Both were drafted by coalitions of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

The Senate’s plan would raise $350 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The House plan was expected to raise about $300 million.

In each chamber, the bipartisan coalition wants to prevent further cuts in social services and aid to Kansas’ public schools.

Each chamber has drafted a budget of $13.6 billion for the next fiscal year. Neither spending plan balances without higher taxes.