Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

Budget Director Duane Goossen told members of the House Taxation Committee that the state is "faced with a very unwelcome choice" of raising taxes to avoid ongoing cuts to schools and social services. Spokesmen for about a dozen school and social service groups also said tax increases would be better than ongoing cuts to state programs. Goossen said about $1 billion in state spending had been reduced since legislators approved the fiscal 2009 budget.

Published on January 21, 2010

Mark Tallman of the Kansas Association of School Boards was among those urging the House Taxation Committee to honor the governor's call for tax increases to ward off further cuts to schools and social services. Tallman said there was public support for taxes to support schools and that after millions of dollars in cuts it was time for the Legislature to consider other options. He also said deeper cuts to schools would hurt the economy more than a tax increase.

Published on January 21, 2010

Shannon Jones of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas said a higher percentage of disabled Kansans work and earn more than their counterparts elsewhere in country because of the strength of the state's social service programs. She was among those urging members of the House Taxation Committee to approve House Bill 2475, which includes the governor's plan or a 1-cent sales tax increase.

Published on January 21, 2010