Topeka ? Two Republican legislators have proposed boosting school spending by $208.4 million annually, saying their plan also includes more flexibility for local districts to raise money but doesn’t require a statewide tax increase.

The increase, offered Friday by Rep. Kenny Wilk and Sen. Nick Jordan, would be phased in over two years. It’s the second school finance plan offered by legislators as a remedy to the Kansas Supreme Court’s order to improve the state’s education funding system by an April 12 deadline.

The boost in spending would be financed in the first two years by using the state’s existing revenues and dipping into its cash reserves, which are typically kept for emergencies. The state’s school districts would be given greater authority to raise additional funds by increasing sales, income and property taxes, subject to voter approval.

“If the Supreme Court ruling isn’t a rainy day, I don’t know what a rainy day would be,” said Wilk, R-Lansing, referring to the use of the state’s cash reserves.

The plan doesn’t include any details on how to pay for the increase after the first two years, but assumes legislators would leave the increase in place.

On Tuesday, Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, outlined a three-year plan to boost education spending by $415 million annually. That plan also would rely on existing state revenues and cash reserves to fund the first year, but would require a tax increase or other revenue source for years two and three and beyond. Hearings on either plan have not been scheduled.

Kansas currently spends $2.7 billion in state aid to its 301 school districts. Adopting either plan would provide the largest infusion of state dollars into the school finance system since the current finance law was rewritten in 1992.

The proposal offered Friday also would change how the state calculates the amount of money it spends on students, taking into account all state, local and federal funds to arrive at a higher per-pupil figure. It would also count money spent by districts on bond and interest payments for construction projects in the total cost of education.

Using the new calculation, Wilk and Jordan set a goal of total funding per pupil of $10,000 by 2008, up from the current $9,480.

Wilk and Jordan said their package does more than address the court’s directive to increase total school funding and put more money into programs for students with special needs. Their plan also sets a goal for improving the quality of education by encouraging investment in math and science excellence.

“We’re presenting a plan we hope gets kids ready for the 21st century economy,” said Jordan, R-Shawnee.

The two also propose establishing a math and science academy for high-performing high school students. Students would be allowed to attend college after their sophomore year of high school. After two years of college, the students would receive their high school diploma and an associate’s degree from college. The state would pay for a portion of the college expense, Jordan said.

Meanwhile, the House Select Committee on School Finance continued to work Friday on its own funding package. House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said it was likely the committee would have a framework to present early next week.

In other action, both chambers adopted a resolution declaring that a Marine from Atchison whose Purple Heart was revoked should have the award reinstated.