Topeka ? As legislative committees work on education funding plans relying on existing state revenues, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ administration says such proposals would create major budget problems in future years.

A proposal before the Senate Education Committee drafted mainly by GOP senators and another plan from two Republican lawmakers would create shortfalls in 2007 and 2008, Budget Director Duane Goossen said Wednesday.

The Senate committee’s plan would phase in a $415 million increase in annual spending on schools over three years. In its first year, the plan would use existing revenues and tap into the state’s cash reserves, but its sponsors haven’t said how they’ll pay for the second and third years.

The other plan, from Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, and Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, would phase in over two years a $208 million increase in annual spending, also relying on existing revenues and cash reserves.

Meanwhile, a House committee on school finance is drafting a plan for one-year, $65 million increase in spending, on top of the state’s $2.7 billion in aid.

All three proposals are aimed at answering a Kansas Supreme Court decision that gave legislators until April 12 to provide more money for schools and distribute dollars more fairly. All three provide additional money for bilingual education, special education and programs for at-risk children.

Sebelius last year proposed higher taxes to boost education funding. She said Wednesday the state needs new revenues dedicated to schools, to avoid “borrowing out of one pot or another.”

“That’s like paying your mortgage on a credit card,” she told about 200 local school board members gathered for a seminar in Topeka. “All you do is get further and further into trouble.”

The Senate committee was to vote Thursday on its plan. The House panel could act early next week, after reviewing the Jordan-Wilk proposal.

Goossen said the Senate committee and Jordan-Wilk plans would cause budget problems because legislators already have made other, non-education spending commitments. The biggest was shoring up the state’s transportation program, requiring $92 million in fiscal 2007 and $209 million in fiscal 2008.

Goossen forecast a $118 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2007 from the Jordan-Wilk plan and $226 million from the Senate committee plan, both growing larger in 2008.

But Wilk said Goossen was too pessimistic about state tax revenues, projecting their growth at 4 percent in 2007 and 2008.

“I expect that stronger economic growth, combined with fiscal discipline, will make this work,” Wilk said.

As for the Senate committee plan, Chairwoman Jean Schodorf said she and others have acknowledged the need for additional revenues.

“The choices are increased taxes or gaming,” said Schodorf, R-Wichita. “We haven’t kept that a secret.”

In the House, Chairwoman Kathe Decker said the school finance committee is avoiding a multiyear plan because of such problems.

“I don’t think you can set anything in stone for now,” said Decker, R-Clay Center.

In other action:

— Some House members jumped into a debate over how evolution is taught in public schools, arguing in a resolution that science classes should give students “the full range of scientific views” on the topic.

— Questioned by senators, Attorney General Phill Kline continued to defend private meetings he had with State Board of Education members last week.

— A “clunker bill,” offering $5 million in refunds to some Kansans who feel they paid too much sales tax on used vehicles, went to Sebelius, thanks to unanimous Senate approval.

— The Senate gave first-round approval to a bill attacking methamphetamine manufacturing by restricting consumers’ access to some cold, flu and allergy medicines.

— Telephone calls to voters endorsing or opposing a candidate will have to identify their sponsor under a bill senators unanimously approved.