Topeka ? The state needs to pour more than $390 million into public schools to provide a suitable education for its children, according to a report released Thursday to legislators.

The report, commissioned by the Legislature, said the state would need to provide $4,650 base state aid per pupil to meet its goals. School districts now receive $3,870 per pupil.

The study performed by Denver-based consulting firm Augenblick and Myers took seven months to compile and cost the state $207,050. It suggested the state continue to use its current funding formula, which sets each school district’s budget, imposes a statewide property tax levy and uses state tax dollars to finance schools.

Public schools would receive an additional $20 per pupil for the fiscal year that begins July 1 under a provision added to a budget cleanup bill. The increase would be funded with $11.5 million from the state’s share of a 1998 legal settlement with tobacco companies. Gov. Bill Graves is expected to sign the bill within a week.

The Legislative Educational Planning Committee spent three hours listening to an explanation of the report Thursday afternoon.

Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, its chairman, said the report would be a foundation as his panel considered funding for public schools.

“Basically what you see there is what we need to come up to speed,” Umbarger said.

The report also suggested the state increase its property tax levy for schools to 25 mills from its current 20 mills, or by 25 percent. Property taxes on a $50,000 home would increase about $17 a year, to $86.

Mark Tallman, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards, said the plan demonstrates a need for increased funding.

“This underscores that there is a relationship between what you spend and what you get,” he said.

The State Board of Education presented a plan last year that would have raised $1.2 billion over three years. That plan wasn’t even considered by the Legislature.

According to committee member Sen. Lana Oleen, the consultants’ report would be given more consideration.

“This will not be the end of this report,” said Oleen, R-Manhattan. “This will not be put on a shelf somewhere.”