Topeka ? A panel of lawmakers and political experts predicts the 2003 Kansas Legislature will follow a familiar refrain: Increase taxes or make deep cuts in services.

âÂÂWeâÂÂve hit a brick wall,â said state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, who opposes tax increases.

HuelskampâÂÂs comment was made during a panel discussion sponsored by Kansas UniversityâÂÂs Topeka-based Public Management Center.

The 1 1/2-hour discussion focused solely on the state budget deficit. State spending exceeds revenue by about $312 million in the current fiscal year and may outstrip revenue in the next fiscal year by nearly $800 million, according to state estimates.

The panel, which included lawmakers, reporters, academicians and a lobbyist, said Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius would have to provide leadership on the deficit. Panelists also indicated Sebeliusâ current review of state government would not produce enough savings soon enough to mend the ailing budget.

âÂÂGov. Sebelius has to become engaged,â said panel moderator Burdett Loomis, a political science professor at KU. âÂÂIf she doesnâÂÂt, it will be a recipe for disaster.âÂÂ

Huelskamp criticized Sebelius, a Democrat, for refusing to consider possible cuts to public-school funding, which makes up half the state budget.

âÂÂThat needs to be on the table,â Huelskamp said.

State Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, said lawmakers received mixed signals from the public.

âÂÂThey donâÂÂt want taxes increases, but they do want public schools fundedâ and social services provided to the elderly, she said.

Pat Hurley, a lobbyist and former state official, said the main question of the legislative session, which starts next month, would be whether the public could live with cuts in services or an increase in taxes.

He said Sebeliusâ âÂÂtop-to-bottomâ review of state government would take at least one year to complete and not produce the kind of savings needed within the time limits of the next legislative session.

But Lee, who serves on one of Sebeliusâ task forces, said the review would offer short-term proposals, then continue looking for long-term ways to make government more efficient.

Others on the panel were state Sens. Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan, and John Vratil, R-Leawood; KU political science professor Allan Cigler; state Budget Director Duane Goossen; and reporters John Hanna of The Associated Press and Jim McLean of the Topeka Capital-Journal.