An advocacy group with ties to more than 600,000 poor, disabled and elderly Kansans on Monday urged lawmakers to raise the state taxes on sales and income.

“We think what we’re proposing is enough to mend the state’s social-service safety net, which, I’m sad to say, is unraveling right before our eyes,” said Shannon Jones, spokeswoman for the Big Tent Coalition, a group representing 81 social service agencies from across the state.

The coalition’s proposal would raise the state’s 5.3 percent sales tax by one-tenth of a percent, and increase the state income tax by 3 percent.

Together, the two increases would raise about $94 million, the amount Jones said was needed to restore welfare spending cuts announced in the waning days of former Gov. Bill Graves’ administration, and address the needs of people now on waiting lists.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has proposed restoring two-thirds of the Graves-imposed cuts. But the governor’s plan is barely a Band-Aid, Jones said.

“It doesn’t even address any of the waiting lists,” Jones said. “We have seniors who’ve been waiting for services since April of 2002. Their conditions have worsened; some have been hospitalized, and some have died while waiting for services.”

Jones said 3,042 Kansans were on waiting lists for services aimed at helping the state’s frail elderly, physically disabled and developmentally disabled avoid moves to nursing homes.

Without money to move people off the lists, the numbers of those waiting for services are likely to triple over the next year.

“Without additional revenue, we’re not fixing the problem,” Jones said.

State Sen. Stephen Morris, R-Hugoton, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said most lawmakers were willing to go along with Sebelius’ budget proposal because it didn’t increase taxes.

A tax increase like the one proposed by the Big Tent Coalition, Morris said, “would be a difficult sell.”

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State Sen. Paul Feleciano of Wichita, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate committee, said a tax increase was needed and Republicans were to blame.

He said GOP legislative leaders had criticized Sebelius’ budget as relying on accounting tricks and deficit financing, but they hadn’t come up with an alternative.

“This is the world’s largest roller-coaster ride. We are cresting at the top, and we all feel good. But gravity will take over and suck us all to the bottom,” Feleciano said.

He said the Big Tent Coalition “is right on target.” Without a tax increase, he said, “the pain and hurt will be felt across the state like it has never been felt before. I’m talking from cradle to grave.”

Morris said a long-range plan must be considered to correct the state’s revenue problems.

“We’re in a stopgap mode right now. It’s not a good policy,” Morris said.

Compounding social service problems, the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services on Thursday will unveil plans for closing 42 SRS county offices because of budget cuts.

In Lawrence, Big Tent Coalition members include Independence Inc., Cottonwood Inc., Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Arc of Douglas County, Full Citizenship Inc., Kansas Home Care Assn. and Kansas Health Care for All.

Coalition members from across the state are expected Wednesday at the Statehouse for a “Freedom Rally.” Afterward, members hope to meet with their legislators.