Kansas lawmakers resume work on state’s budget

Lobbyists, staff officials, staff and reporters attend on Monday the Senate Ways and Means Committee meeting. The committee was going to work on a budget and tax proposal in preparation for the wrap-up session that starts April 28. The state faces an estimated 10 million revenue hole.

? State Senate budget-writers returned to work Monday to tackle an estimated $510 million revenue shortfall.

“This is not a pleasant experience for any of us,” said state Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, who is chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

State Sen. Jay Emler, R-Lindsborg, and chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee listens Monday to briefing from staff on budget crisis. Seated next to him is state Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, and the ranking Democrat on the panel.

Emler said the committee will meet this week to put together a budget and the tax increases needed to support it. An overflow crowd attended the first meeting Monday morning.

The full Legislature returns April 28 for the wrap-up session.

Last week, budget and economic experts revised state revenue estimates for the current and next fiscal years. The shortfall is roughly $510 million from Gov. Mark Parkinson’s recommended budget.

Parkinson, a Democrat, and Senate Republican leaders have called for a tax increase to bridge the gap.

Parkinson has said that the nearly $1 billion in state budget cuts that have already been made are enough. Further cuts, he said, will cause permanent harm to public schools, higher education and social services.

But House Republican leaders oppose any new taxes, saying an increase would be too great a burden on Kansas families amid a shaky economy.