New money a challenge for legislators

Deferred university maintenance a big priority for local lawmakers

Here’s a new one for state legislators: figuring out what to do with a public checkbook that actually has some spending money in it.

Douglas County legislators told Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members and local elected officials at a Thursday morning gathering that the state’s financial picture had improved significantly, but that fact might create wide-open debates on how to use the new dollars.

“We have some crucial decisions to make,” said Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence. “Are we going to squander this opportunity, or are we going to remedy some of the problems we haven’t been able to address over the years?”

Local elected leaders who gathered for the chamber’s annual legislative priorities breakfast advocated the latter. They placed a spotlight on the need to begin addressing a backlog of $727 million worth of repairs at the state’s public universities.

“Unless we do something pretty urgently, it will be an issue that will really get out of hand,” said Kansas University Provost Richard Lariviere.

Legislators said they thought the upcoming session, which starts Monday, could be one of the better opportunities for the repair program to at least get partial funding because budget experts late last year estimated the state would collect $300 million more in tax revenue than expected.

“The state of Kansas has not been doing what it needs to do in that area,” Sen. Roger Pine, R-Lawrence, said. “We have to address it.”

New House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, has expressed an interest in providing funding for the issue, but he has not identified a specific revenue source.

“Melvin doesn’t want to increase taxes, I know that,” said Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence. “I’m still interested in where the money is going to come from. I’ve had that conversation with him. I’m pleased that he is at least interested.”

Legislators were on hand to have breakfast with local officals, while from left, Roger Pine, Keith Yehle, and Richard Lariviere, great each other Thursday morning before the Legislative Priorities breakfast at the Eldridge Hotel. Local school officals along with KU, City, Chamber personal met with Legislators.

What else the Legislature may be interested in, though, is a bit of an open question. After approving a multiyear school finance plan last session, legislators won’t have to spend as much time on K-12 funding issues, which have dominated past sessions.

Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said he anticipated the improved revenue position would lead to requests to roll back several types of business taxes.

Holland hopes to get legislators to focus on providing property tax relief to older residents. He plans to file a bill that would create a property tax deferral program for older residents who qualify. The program essentially would freeze their property tax bills until they sell the home or pass it on to their heirs. At that time, the past taxes that were frozen would be due.

“I cannot tell you the number of seniors who tell me they are being taxed out of their homes,” Holland said.

Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, said she wants the Legislature to consider more renewable energy options for the state.

Francisco also said the Legislature needs to examine the ramifications of some new sentencing guidelines, which she fears could put a strain on the state’s prisons. She would like legislators to consider more prevention and treatment funding to reduce the need for new prisons.

Francisco and several other legislators also said they wouldn’t completely escape their annual K-12 funding conversations. Most said they did think legislators would follow through on their previous funding commitments because they did not want the state to land back in court.

But Francisco said the funding formula needs some tweaking. She said Lawrence, for example, is not adequately benefiting from cost-of-living factors that are built into the formula.

“I’ve already learned in the Legislature that what you spend a lot of time doing is fixing what you did the year before,” Francisco said.