Topeka ? Two weeks before a court battle over school finance, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday reiterated her call for a tax increase to fund public schools.

“I think we need a new revenue stream to make sure we can adequately fund the formula,” Sebelius said about state school aid. “But at the same time, we need to make sure the dollars we use are going to the classroom and not an administrative bureaucracy.”

Sebelius’ comments came as attorneys prepare for oral arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court in a school finance lawsuit.

A state district court has declared Kansas’ $2.7 billion method of funding schools unconstitutional because it shortchanges students, especially minorities and those with disabilities.

The state has appealed, and the case will be heard by the state Supreme Court on Aug. 30. A decision by the court could be made in the fall.

After last year’s lower court ruling, Sebelius, a Democrat, proposed a $300 million increase in property, sales and income taxes for schools. The Legislature rejected the plan and numerous smaller ones before adjourning.

Earlier this month, key Republican legislators who sponsored tax increases for schools were defeated by anti-tax candidates in primary races.

But Sebelius said the need for tax increases for schools remained necessary because base state aid per pupil had been at the same level since 2001 while salaries, health care costs and maintenance expenses had increased.

School districts across the state are cutting back on programs and increasing fees to grapple with tight budgets.

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“Trying to work with the same dollars is a cut,” she said.

In addition to her tax increase proposal, Sebelius had recommended that the state audit school districts to ensure administrative expenses were held to a minimum. The Legislature didn’t act on the proposal, but Sebelius said she would propose something like it again during the next session in January 2005.