Topeka — Gov. Bill Graves may be considering an increase in the state sales tax to help balance the state budget.
Graves spokesman Don Brown said Friday that an increase in the sales tax "is certainly on the table," but he declined to confirm whether Graves would propose one. "Pretty much everything is on the table," he said.
Graves has said that he would announce Monday the first day of the 2002 legislative session "a package of targeted restorations and a funding package to make the restorations possible."
As required by law, Graves has released a budget based on existing revenue. But he has said that the $4.3 billion spending plan is unacceptable because of cuts it requires.
Graves' officials said the state would need to increase revenue by $300 million just to get the budget up to the level necessary to continue current services. In addition, the state needs tens of millions of dollars more to pay for increasing health care costs for the poor, children and elderly.
Earlier, the governor said he wouldn't consider raising the state income tax or statewide property taxes.
So, to get close to the kind of revenue needed to bridge the funding gap, only the state sales tax remains.
Currently, the state sales tax is 4.9 cents per dollar.
A one-cent increase in the tax would generate $347 million, state officials said.
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