Topeka ? The House Education Committee began debate Thursday on a $92 million school finance plan offered by the chamber’s Republicans, who were far from united on the merits of the proposal.

“Trying to get Republicans to agree is hard, let alone 125 people,” said Committee Chairwoman Kathe Decker, R-Clay Center.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, and Majority Leader Clay Aurand, R-Courtland, told the committee that the plan was a short-term solution to school funding that addressed needs of poor and minority students, while giving districts some flexibility.

“This should not be regarded as a permanent fix in any way,” Mays said. “This is something that will get us through to ’05, then everything will be on the table.”

An endorsement by the committee would send a bill containing the plan to the entire 125-member House for debate.

The plan would allow school districts to increase spending on special education programs by $40.5 million, but districts would have to reduce or eliminate a property tax break for home owners to get some of the funds.

Kansas currently exempts the first $2,300 of a residential property’s assessed value from the state’s school levy, saving owners $46 a year. The levy is $20 for every $1,000 of a residential property’s assessed value.

In addition, the plan would add about $28.5 million for teacher mentoring, bilingual education and programs for children who are at risk of dropping out of school. That money would come from existing state resources yet to be identified.

Opponents testified Thursday that the changes would exacerbate inequities between the poorest and wealthiest districts in Kansas.

Derby Superintendent Mike Pomarico, whose district is a member of the statewide Schools for Fair Funding organization, said his school board, like others, would find it difficult to leverage more local property taxes. He noted that the courts have ruled that Kansas children are entitled to a “suitable education.”

“This ‘suitable education’ is being determined by where they live,” he said.

On Wednesday, Rep. Bill Kassebaum, R-Burdick, signaled that he was similarly unimpressed by the House Republicans’ proposal.

“It’s not my plan,” said Kassebaum, who was part of group of freshmen legislators who proposed a school package last year, funded through statewide tax increases.

Kassebaum said he prefers the first year of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ education plan, which would increase school funding $137 million through sales and income tax increases.

Sebelius’ full plan would phase in a $304 million increase in school spending over three years, funded by increases in sales, income and property taxes.

Kassebaum called the first year of that plan “a tiny step” toward addressing student needs and said Sebelius and legislative leaders need to stop playing politics and work together.

“I hope that dialogue’s one day closer to happening,” he said.

Decker said time is growing short in the session and that few options have surfaced to help schools.

“You almost have to look at them and wonder, ‘What do you want?”‘ Decker said.

Senate Education Chairman Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer, said a school finance proposal being drafted by Senate Republicans was near completion and would be presented this week. Several senators have been meeting over the past several days, including visits with Sebelius to discuss options.

The Senate has rejected Sebelius’ full three-year plan and a bill containing the first year of the plan is before Umbarger’s committee and still in play.

In action on other legislative issues Wednesday:

— Opponents of a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to ban gay marriage told the Senate Judiciary Committee that the measure could hurt economic development.

— The House Appropriations Committee endorsed a $10.2 billion budget Wednesday that holds overall state spending flat in the next fiscal year.

— House and Senate negotiators agreed on the final version of a bill imposing a new, 50-cent monthly fee on wireless phones to finance improvements in county 911 systems.

— The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee began work on Sebelius’ plan to expand gambling in Kansas, considering changes designed to help the state’s dog and horse racing tracks.

House school plan is HB 2940.

On the Net:

Kansas Legislature: http://www.kslegislature.org