Topeka — A state Senate committee Friday rejected proposed cuts in public school funding but adopted reductions for social services and higher education.
Shannon Jones, an advocate for people with disabilities, said if the bill was accepted by the full Legislature, $27 million would be cut from community-based programs for the elderly and disabled.
"These cuts are inhumane," said Jones, executive director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas. She said some senior citizens would be prevented from getting services and accelerate their admission into more expensive nursing home care.
"This is so short-sighted," she said.
The action came after three days of hearings on a plan by Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, and Sen. Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, to cut state spending by about $76 million.
The Kerr-Morris proposal included a $23.7 million cut to public schools, but neither senator voiced opposition when the committee restored those funds. The proposed cut would have reduced base state aid per pupil by $39, to $3,831 from $3,870.
A vote on another key part of the Kerr-Morris plan dipping into emergency fund balances was postponed.
Kerr said the rejection of cuts to public schools showed most lawmakers want to hold schoolscunharmed as they explore ways to plug a $426 million budget gap caused by falling revenues and increasing welfare costs.
But he said a 2 percent cut to social service programs and a 1.2 percent cut to higher education, including Kansas University, seem more acceptable.
"I haven't seen the same degree of queasiness on that issue," he said.
Jones said the 2 percent cut to social services was more like an 8 percent cut because the funds would be taken from budgets for the final quarter of the fiscal year.
Kerr, who has been a leading opponent of increased taxes, also predicted some kind of tax increase would be approved to bridge the shortfall.
Gov. Bill Graves has called for a quarter-cent increase in the state sales tax, a 65 cent increase in the state cigarette tax and a 1 cent per gallon increase in the fuel tax.
"We want to compromise with the governor," Kerr said, adding that he doubted the Legislature would approve a broad-based tax increase such as Graves proposed sales tax increase.
"I'd be surprised if in his heart of hearts he expects that to become law," Kerr said.
Tough choices
The modified Kerr-Morris plan will go to the full Senate for a vote, possibly next week. It was adopted by the Ways and Means Committee on a 6-4 vote. Several who voted for it said they didn't necessarily support the measure, but wanted to get a bill to the full Senate for discussion.
"We have to start or we will be here in December, saying, 'we have to start,'" said Sen. Larry Salmans, R-Hanston.
Sen. Paul Feleciano, D-Wichita, refused to vote for the bill because it would cut social service spending.
"I cannot in clear conscience support what we are doing here," Feleciano said.
But Morris and Kerr said lawmakers must make tough choices to balance the budget.
The measure is the first out of the chute during the two-week-old session that deals primarily with the state's budget problems.
Those voting for the cuts were Kerr; Morris; Salmans; Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee; David Jackson, R-Topeka; and Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler.
Those voting against the bill included Feleciano; Sen. Jim Barone, D-Frontenac; David Adkins, R-Leawood; and Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita.
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