Build the 2013 state budget. Cut taxes or raise them. Increase spending or downsize government. This is your chance to show policymakers how you want it done.
Government budgets are serious things. They are the way we set priorities. Like puzzles, budgets have multiple pieces that fit together to complete a picture. The budget puzzle gives you a chance to paint the picture you want for Kansas. In the budget puzzle, there isn’t one right answer or one picture. How you solve the puzzle reveals your preferences and priorities for increasing or decreasing government spending or taxes. This puzzle is designed to help you better understand the choices and trade-offs that must be made to fit together limited resources with desires for spending.
How to work the puzzle:
Just like the governor and Legislature, you are creating a budget for the state fiscal year that will start on July 1, 2012. Make a decision in each revenue and expenditure category by selecting one item from each of the drop-down boxes. Or write in your own choice. The total of your revenue and expenditure choices will show up in the columns below. The numbers in the game are virtually the same as the real numbers in the State General Fund. Each number represents millions of dollars. For expenditures, the starting or default budget is last year’s budget, and you will be adding or subtracting from there. For revenues, the starting or default budget is the Consensus Revenue Estimate, and you will be adding or subtracting from that level. If you want more information about the choices you will be making, pause your mouse over the question mark next to each title and a text box will appear.
The Kansas Budget Puzzle
All number values are dollars in millions
Expenditure Choices
(dollars in Millions)
K-12 Education ? $3038
Higher Education ? $738
Medicaid ? $1111
Health Agencies/State Hospitals ? $433
Public Safety ? $397
All Other Agencies ? $351
Write your own item
$
Revenue Choices
(dollars in Millions)
Sales Tax ? $2535
Corporate Income Tax ? $240
Income Tax ? $3065
Liquor/Tobacco Taxes ? $188
Severance Taxes ? $103
All other revenues ? $160
Write your own item
$
My results
Expenditure Results
| Expenditure Choices | Starting Budget | Your Choices |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 Education: Repeat previous year ($0) | $3038 | $0 |
| Higher Education: Repeat previous year ($0) | $738 | $0 |
| Medicaid: Repeat previous year ($0) | $1111 | $0 |
| Health Agencies/State Hospitals: Repeat previous year ($0) | $433 | $0 |
| Public Safety: Repeat previous year ($0) | $397 | $0 |
| All Other Agencies: Repeat previous year ($0) | $351 | $0 |
| Totals | $0 | $0 |
Revenue Results
| Revenue Choices | Starting Budget | Your Choices |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Tax: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $2535 | $0 |
| Corporate Income Tax: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $240 | $0 |
| Income Tax: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $3065 | $0 |
| Liquor/Tobacco Taxes: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $188 | $0 |
| Severance Taxes: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $103 | $0 |
| All other revenues: Use Consensus Revenue Estimate ($0) | $160 | $0 |
| Totals | $0 | $0 |
My Results Summary
| Budget Choices | Totals |
|---|---|
| Beginning Balance (fixed value, defined in the database) | $433 |
| My Revenues | |
| Total Available (Beginning Balance plus My Revenues) | |
| My Expenditures | |
| Ending Balance (Total Available minus My Expenditures) |