Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius on Friday hinted she would support a tax increase if the alternative was cutting public school funding.

At a Lawrence Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Sebelius was asked, “If the budget shortfall requires a choice between cutting education and raising taxes, which would you choose?”

Sebelius responded, “I’ve said from the beginning of this campaign that cutting education is not an option I will look at, and I stand by that.”

What followed was about five seconds of silence, then applause from the crowd of 90 people who attended the event at the Eldridge Hotel.

Asked later by reporters if she had endorsed a tax increase for education, Sebelius said, “No, I did not. I said I would not cut education.”

Sebelius said she was committed to a top-to-bottom performance audit of all state government to find efficiencies to save money.

“I think we have to commit to the process I’ve been talking about,” she said.

The issues of taxes and school funding have been at the center of the gubernatorial race between Sebelius and Republican Tim Shallenburger, who will square off in the Nov. 5 election.

Key state budget officials have said the next governor and Legislature will be forced either to cut spending, increase taxes or both to bridge a widening revenue gap that some estimates have pegged at $800 million in a $4.4 billion budget.

Despite this fiscal mess, Sebelius and Shallenburger have said they can mend the budget without increasing taxes or cutting school funding. Education expenses make up more than half of the state budget.

After Sebelius’ comments Friday, several of those in attendance said her answer to the “cut education” or “raise taxes” question showed her commitment to public schools.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius, left, speaks with Lawrence resident and event sponsor Miles Schnaer following a luncheon at the Eldridge Hotel. About 90 people attended Friday's luncheon, which was coordinated by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

“I think her position has been if that’s what it takes to make sure we protect education for children in Kansas, that’s what it takes,” said Lawrence Mayor Sue Hack, a retired teacher.

Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said Sebelius’ answer showed she would “do whatever is necessary so that she doesn’t cut (school funding).”

Earlier in the campaign, Shallenburger had said schools could sustain a 3 percent cut without much harm. But he has since said he would protect education funding from cuts.

Earlier this week, Sebelius pledged also to protect higher education from cuts; Shallenburger refused to make the same promise.

Former Lawrence legislator Forrest Swall, a Democrat, said neither Shallenburger nor Sebelius would voice support for a tax increase during the campaign. “It’s just a death knell for either candidate,” he said.

But Swall added that he believed Sebelius would be more ready and willing than Shallenburger to try to reach a bipartisan solution to address the budget shortfall.

The question submitted to Sebelius provided something of a mystery, too.

At the luncheon series, the candidates give a speech and then take questions that audience members have written on scratch pads. Chamber officials then pick up the hand-written questions and ask them of the candidates.

But this question submitted to Sebelius was typed on a different sheet of paper, indicating it was prepared before her speech.

Tim Holverson, the chamber official who asked Sebelius the questions, said he did not know who submitted that particular question.