June shortfall could mean education cuts

Two local legislators say cuts to public education funding should be at the top of the list for Gov. Mark Parkinson as he looks for ways to eliminate a possible $270 million shortfall.

In a statement Monday, Parkinson hinted education funding would be targeted, saying the shortfall makes it difficult to "spare any large recipient of revenue."

Public education comprises more than 50 percent of the state budget.

The Department of Revenue this week released figures showing state revenue for June at about $35 million below projections.

Revenue in May was off by more than $100 million.

According to a memo from the Kansas Legislative Research Department, revenue shortfalls double to include the next year's fiscal budget, meaning the $135 million shortfall will translate into $270 million, said House Appropriations Chair Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, who requested the KLRD information.

According to the memo dated prior to the June revenue numbers, the state was looking at a $206 million shortfall (the May figures times two) and said Parkinson could implement a 4.4 percent or more across-the-board cut.

The governor also could seek a tax increase by calling for a special session. He has the authority to make budget cuts when legislators are out of session, but cannot increase taxes without legislative approval.

Yoder said cuts will create problems for school districts that are already planning for the start of the 2009-10 school year in August based on the 2010 budget approved in May.

"If you're talking 5 percent on top of what was already cut, that's going to be a real struggle," Yoder said.

"Our school districts have hired teachers, they are planning their fall classrooms, they are assigning students to teachers, they're getting ready to start school.

"I don't think some areas can take another 5 percent cut. I don't think cutting 5 percent more from public safety is feasible or prudent; I think we've cut public safety too much already. Some of the Social Service recipients, the elderly and the aging need us now more than ever, yet we have less money to give them. Higher education has already been cut dramatic amounts, so that puts K-12 in the crosshairs more than any other entity.

"If (the governor) doesn't do an across-the-board cut, that means K-12 is going to get cut even a higher share."

House Majority Leader Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, said he is not sure how Parkinson will make reductions to eliminate the shortfall.

"I don't see how you cannot cut education and not get this thing balanced," Merrick said. "Everybody else has taken tremendous hits - public safety, Social Services - so I don't know how you cannot touch education.

"My advice to (Parkinson) is to do it and get it over with because I don't think this is the last one we will have to do. I think more cuts are coming later this year; I don't see the economy picking up."

Parkinson said he would not make across-the-board cuts because earlier reductions have been so deep to many departments. More cuts to public safety, for example, he said would create a dangerous situation to the public welfare.

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment