Topeka ? The Kansas House today voted to cut taxes and increase school funding at the same time, ending with a bill that would be about $270 million out of balance.

The action came during debate on a routine property tax bill as lawmakers rushed to add amendments dealing with taxes and school finance.

When the smoke cleared, the House had advanced a bill that would increase the state income tax deduction for married couples from $6,000 to $20,000, and it would enact the first year of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ education plan. It also would allow local districts to raise more funds locally for schools

But when it came time to pay for the Sebelius plan through an increase in sales and state income tax, the House rejected that notion.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said the message in the “hodgepodge” of voting was to increase local control over school spending. The bill itself, he said, “really doesn’t have a great deal of meaning.”

House Democratic Leader Dennis McKinney of Greensburg said the underlying message of the votes was that a majority of House members want an increase in school finance.

An amendment also was passed to ensure that starting teachers would be paid a minimum of $30,000 per year.

Mark Desetti, a lobbyist for the Kansas National Education Assn., said of the House action, “It was interesting to watch. I’m hopeful that it indicates that a bi-partisan coalition to do something about school finance is coalescing.”

Final action on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday.