State Budget Woes Outlined at Chamber Legislative Coffee

State Senator Jeff Longbine opened his comments at a Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce legislative coffee Saturday by telling the audience it had been a very difficult week in Topeka…”sad in fact.”

( State Senator Jeff Longbine, standing, speaking at a Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coffee. )

He reviewed the recision bill that was approved which would cut about $300 million out of the State’s current fiscal year 2015 budget. Longbine said it was necessary because the State is broke, and bills had to be paid.

The components of the bill include:

–Removal of 158 million from KDOT programs, although the T-Works programs will not be impacted.

–$51 million in KDOT maintenance bids cancelled

–$58 million removed from a payment to KPERS

–The February 15 deadline for capital outlay payments to school districts was extended until June, which could cause some cash flow problems for schools. They may have to use some reserves.

–A 4-percent cut to virtually all state agency budgets

Longbine reported that Governor Brownback also did his own allotments. Those involved a two-percent cut to higher education, and one-and-a-half percent addition to K-12 public school funding.

The Senator added, however, that he is somewhat encouraged about the budget situation. “This is the type of event that we needed for some of our Kool-Aid drinkers to start having a stomach ache, and some of them are there.” Longbine wants a structurally balanced budget, noting he needs 20 friends in the Senate, and more are needed in the House to find a way to have a structurally balanced budget. He stated in his opinion it will have to include some revenue, and legislators have some thoughts on that subject.

During his comments State Representative Tom Moxley confirmed the State is spending more money than it is taking in because of a decrease in revenues. He said the situation largely occurred because of 2012 and 2013 income tax reduction bills that were approved. With that revenue the current shortfall would not exist.

Moxley noted the Brownback Administration crowed about the tax plan for three years, but now doesn’t own it. The State Representative said he was “just astonished.”

The Legislative Coffee drew a good turnout, with a full room present at the C. L. Opera House to hear the elected officials, and submit questions to them.