Budget reduction bill awaits action before Kansas House

? A deficit-reduction bill that makes $91 million worth of adjustments in the 2010 Kansas budget was awaiting action Wednesday in the House.

The bill generally ratifies steps taken in November by Gov. Mark Parkinson to avoid a deficit when the state’s fiscal year ends June 30.

But since November, the state has collected even less tax revenue than expected. Legislative researchers now predict that Kansas will end the fiscal year with a $39 million deficit.

For the 2011 budget, which begins July 1, the projected revenue gap stands at $416 million.