Topeka ? Debate about how to fix the budget crisis heated up Tuesday with Gov. Bill Graves and House Speaker Kent Glasscock calling on lawmakers to take seriously the state’s $680 million revenue shortfall.

Graves’ comments came during a speech to school administrators and teachers where he said some lawmakers were playing political games with education funding.

He didn’t identify the lawmakers, but he urged the group of educators to work during the election season to defeat politicians who vote against public schools.

“We also need your advocacy in both August and November. I truly believe that the only way we’re going to change the environment at the Statehouse is if we change a few of the people who come to serve at the Statehouse,” Graves said.

Graves said because of the revenue shortfall, the best public schools can expect is to escape the legislative session without being cut or maybe getting a small increase in funding.

But earlier, educators said a so-called “hold harmless” budget for schools amounted to a cut because of increased education costs.

Speaking at the annual Public Education Forum, Jefferson West Supt. Rob Little said budget cuts were forcing reductions in transportation and special education and enactment of student fees to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.

“Anything elective looks like it is going to have a usage tax,” Little said.

Topeka Supt. Robert McFrazier said any cutbacks would have negative effects on students “five and 10 years down the road.”

He said the only way for schools to cut costs is to cut staff because staff salaries make up 85 percent of a school budget.

“You’re going to get your money cutting people. When you cut people, you cut programs and when you cut programs, you shortchange students,” McFrazier said.

Lawmakers at the forum, Sens. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, who is chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and Christine Downey, D-Inman, the ranking Democrat on the panel, told educators to make sure their legislators understand how cuts will hurt schools.

Earlier in the day, during the House Republican Party caucus, Glasscock, R-Manhattan, was critical when Rep. Tony Powell, R-Wichita, suggested one way to mend the revenue shortfall without a tax increase is to use the state’s fund balances.

“That’s the easy way out. We can pass a budget we can’t afford, not raise taxes and go home and run for re-election,” Glasscock said, but added that would be irresponsible. “This is the year that we cannot avoid the responsibility of governance.”

Later, Powell said his point was that the revenue shortfall is not as great as $680 million, and that the state’s cash balances are supposed to be used in times of emergencies.

The $680 million figure represents the difference between projected revenue for the fiscal year that starts July 1, and the amount of money it would take to pay for a current services budget, according to Duane Goossen, who is director of Graves’ budget division. Included in that amount is $45 million for higher education reforms and about $150 million in tax transfers to the highway construction program which have yet to be appropriated.

Meanwhile, the House, for the second day, took up measures designed to close the revenue gap, but didn’t make any headway.