TOPEKA — Public schools and universities are the biggest losers in Gov. Mark Parkinson’s newest spending cuts. They’ll lose $54 million more or two percent of what they would have received this year. Schools and universities received tax cuts earlier this year. Parkinson announced $90 million in spending cuts this morning. Because public education and universities make up most of the state’s budget, cuts had to be made otherwise other agencies would be wiped out, he said. The state will generate another $69 million from federal economic money and bookkeeping manuevers. Parkinson said if the state’s finances don’t recover, there will likely need to be a tax increase next year.
The state ended its fiscal year Tuesday short by $126 million. Ottawa school superintendent Dean Katt says his district has prepared for today’s cuts.
