TOPEKA — When the legislators take their nearly month-long recess this week, possibly as early as today, they’ll leave without having finished a budget for the state. That’s unprecedented, said state Sen. Pat Apple, R-Louisburg. Legislators left the budget undone to wait on the April report by the state revenue estimating committee in hopes that the state’s finances might improve, Apple said. When legislators return, they’ll work the budget, he said. However, state Rep. Bill Otto, R-Leroy, said he’s not expecting any miracles from the report. Although it’s beginning to dawn on many legislators that they’ll need to raise taxes to help cover the state’s massive budget gap, there’s little agreement on how to raise the revenue. A survey of Kansans last week indicated that they’re willing to see an increase in taxes and they’re not willing to see more cuts in public education, senior programs, transportation or in higher education, said Rep. Tony Brown. The survey said they’ll accept higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol but not on sales taxes or income taxes, he said. However, that won’t raise enough revenue to cover the state’s budget gap, he said. Otto said he won’t vote for increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol. Those taxes are already higher than Missouri’s and economists predict a “slippage” of 25 percent as Kansans buy cigarettes and alcohol from out-of-state, on Kansas Indian reservations or on-line.
Wednesday, March 31, 7:30 a.m.
