Kansas Legislature seeks 20 percent budget increase

Proposal also calls for 'computer strategic plan'

Topeka ? Kansas lawmakers have requested a hefty budget increase even as they have demanded that state agencies tighten their belts.

The Legislature is seeking an increase from $16.4 million to $19.7 million, a $3.3 million or 20 percent jump

The numbers were revealed Tuesday in Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed $13.6 billion state budget.

Sebelius’ staff says that when it comes to the Legislature, she simply passes through their request in the spending proposal and lets lawmakers make the decision.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, said the Legislature’s budget proposal would get scrutinized.

“Obviously we’ll look at it,” Neufeld said.

Last week, House Republicans unveiled their legislative agenda, which included holding state budget growth to

5 percent over current spending.

The Legislature is seeking additional funding for a “computer strategic plan.”

This would include video production control rooms for Webcasting or broadcasting to public television, extending virtual legislative committees and other high-tech improvements.

The plan also would establish a data backup center in Wichita in the event of a disaster in Topeka, according to Sebelius’ budget document.

Governor’s Budget

Revenues fall $33 million short

Topeka (ap) – State officials received bad financial news before the start of the 2008 legislative session.

Revenue collections for December fell $33.3 million short of expectations, according to a report released Tuesday by the Kansas Legislative Research Department.

The department’s report said legislators and others should be careful not to read too much into a month’s revenue collections, but Senate President Steve Morris acknowledged, “That’s not particularly good news.”

The state expected to collect about $571 million in general revenues during the month, but it took in only $538 million – more than enough to erase the small surplus the state had collected from July 1, when the 2008 fiscal year began, through November.