Topeka ? Many small business owners in Kansas are strongly opposed to Gov. Mark Parkinson’s proposal to raise the state sales tax. But others acknowledge it may be the only way to recover from the state’s severe budget problems.

Business owners along the state’s borders say customers will simply go to bordering states to avoid the higher sales taxes. They say that will actually reduce the amount of sales tax in their regions of the state.

But some business owners not near state borders say the sales tax increase would be less intrusive than other types of taxes.

In his State of the State address Monday night, Parkinson asked lawmakers to increase the state’s sales tax to 6.3 percent from 5.3 percent, for three years. He also proposed increases in cigarette and other tobacco products.