Topeka ? Senators gave first-round approval Wednesday to an increase in education spending, despite concerns that the state will lack the $12 million to fund it.

The proposed $20 per-pupil increase in state aid for public schools to $3,890 a year advanced on a 23-12 vote. Final approval would send it to the House.

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Gov. Bill Graves proposed the increase in January and tied it to his plan for $228 million in tax increases. The Senate Education Committee endorsed the bill without specifying a source for the extra money.

On Wednesday, the Senate defeated a motion to return the bill to committee until the state’s revenue forecast is updated March 8.

The most recent forecast indicated a $426 million gap between expected revenue and required spending in the fiscal year that starts July 1. Many expect the gap to approach $600 million with the new forecast.

Some senators said passing the funding bill would commit the state to something it cannot pay for.

“This would send a false expectation to our school districts that we can find that money in the budget,” said Sen. Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Bob Lyon, R-Winchester, whose district includes Jefferson County, voted against the $20 increase.

Lyon said he doesn’t believe schools should receive an increase in funding and that lawmakers need to “take a hard look at the stewardship of current resources.”

Lyon said he doesn’t understand why it costs about $8,000 to educate a pupil in the public school system, and half that at a private school.

Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, voted for the $20 increase, saying it should be used as a goal. “It’s important to set goals that we at least say we are striving for,” she said.

Praeger said more funding is needed for public schools to avoid some of the cuts that are being considered by the Lawrence school district, such as reducing funding for school nurses.

She said for some children the school nurse is their primary health-care provider. “Without more revenue, these are the kinds of things that will be cut, which I believe are necessary services,” she said.

And Mark Tallman, lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards, said the bill is significant because it indicates some senators are willing to increase taxes.

“There is a desire at least to hold education harmless,” Tallman said.

But Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, said it would be premature to approve an increase in education spending without the new budget estimates.

“It is entirely possible that the governor’s proposed tax increase could be swallowed up with the new estimates,” Kerr said.

In that event, Kerr said, legislators could be looking at a budget “which makes significant cuts in education.”

Sen. Tim Huelskamp called the bill irresponsible.

“Thank goodness we can’t print our own money in Kansas, because it would be happening on the Senate floor,” said Huelskamp, R-Fowler. “You can’t spend money we don’t have. It is very irresponsible and very misleading.”

The school finance bill is SB 526.