Debate scheduled on deficit reduction plan that would cut deeper into public schools

School finance plans

Below is a comparison of the various proposals to cut funding to public schools in Douglas County.

The first number is how much Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed budget would cut schools. The second number is how much would be cut under a bipartisan plan adopted last week by the state Senate. The third number represents the cut to schools under a bill recommended by House Republican leaders that is scheduled for debate today.

•Lawrence: $411,219; $556,061; $1,456,976.

• Eudora: $52,276; $71,749; $188,592.

• Baldwin City: $50,019; $68,756; $180,700.

• Total statewide: $18,396,176; $25,345,039; $66,635,080.

Source: Kansas State Department of Education

Topeka ? House members are scheduled Wednesday to debate a deficit reduction plan that would cut deeper into public schools.

Republican leaders who control the chamber are hoping to push through the plan that would reduce school funding by $66.6 million in the current school year.

Those cuts would be more than twice the size of a bipartisan plan that was approved last week by the Senate.

But House GOP officials say their budget plan is better because it does more to protect funding for human services.

“Our approach is just to have a more fair and balanced allocation of cuts,” said state Rep. Kevin Yoder, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

A group that advocates for school funding disagreed.

“We can’t see how any legislator who claims to be a supporter of education can favor the House bill over the Senate plan,” said Kathy Cook, executive director of Kansas Families for Education.

The debate comes as state government faces a $186 million budget deficit that could balloon to $1 billion by the start of the next fiscal year, July 1.

Democrats in the House have vowed to reduce the proposed cut to schools, hoping to draw in Republicans who are unhappy with the size of the cuts. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the House 76-49.