Topeka — Two days after more than 1,000 Kansans rallied at the Statehouse to oppose more budget cuts to public schools, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday to cut more than $172 million in school funding.
The vote was along party lines -- Republicans recommending the cuts; Democrats in opposition.
From left to right J.G. Scott, with the Kansas Legislative Research Department, state Rep. Clay Aurand, R-Courtland, and state Rep. Joe McLeland, R-Wichita, confer during a meeting Wednesday of the House Education Budget Committee at the Capitol. Republicans voted to slash school funding further.
The committee recommendation will go to the full House. House Republican leaders have said they want to balance the state budget without increasing taxes.
The state has cut $1 billion in spending over the past year, including about $300 million from schools, and legislators still face a nearly $500 million revenue shortfall in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Democrats, led by Gov. Mark Parkinson, and Republican leaders in the Senate support increasing taxes, but no specific plan has gained any traction.
Under the House Republican recommendation, general state aid to schools would be cut $86 million. Another $86 million would be taken from supplemental aid, which helps poorer districts. And the proposal would cut a $33 million increase that Parkinson had built into his budget.
Mark Tallman, a lobbyist with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said the way the cuts are proposed would hurt the poorest districts the most. “It seems extremely unwise public policy,” he said.
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yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…
Shameful. This is the single worst thing that could be done to the economic development of the state.
What wealthy, educated people will want to move to Kansas to start businesses in the bio, tech, or pharma industries with an educational system that has been devastated by the hanyocks in the Kansas legislature.
Wow21 (anonymous) says…
Hey Clay- the state doesn't have it because you and your buddies gave it away. The House Republicans from O'Neal down are an absolute joke and a waste of human life. They've p*ssed away billions of dollars through exemptions to get themselves elected year after year and now they want everyone else to fix their mistakes. Oh wait, I'm sure it's Obama's fault or Sebelius' fault. These Republicans only care about lining their pockets with campaign cash from businesses and to hell with the rest of the state. To bad if you're disabled, poor, a kid, you can't vote and you can't contribute to campaigns so Republicans don't care about you. When are the people these clowns represent going to wake up.
If they make $200 million more in cuts that means more teachers fired meaning higher unemployment along with destroying the education of thousands upon thousands of kids and killing communities.
The good thing is there is no chance this passes or even comes close, they don't have the votes. They only proposed this so they can go back and tell their silver haired constituents and business contributors they didn't vote to raise their taxes.
Up until a few days ago I thought Mike O'Neal had the market cornered on being the stupidest, most greedy human being on earth. It looks like the rest of the House Republicans want to get in on that contest too. I
KUKRU (anonymous) says…
ruck fublicans!!!!!!!!
KUKRU (anonymous) says…
How about we cut the pay for our state legislators instead of stifling the intellectual growth of our future!!!!
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
I just hope someone remembers to run some of these articles when it comes re-election time. Yea, we didn't raise taxes !!!! But we have the dumbest students in the U.S.
Oh, wait..... I just thought. Maybe that how these guys plan to stay in office. Have the dumbest voters around and then tell them you did a good job.
Thinking_Out_Loud (anonymous) says…
somebodynew, you're onto something. Generally speaking, personal financial stability declines as education declines, and voting patterns decline as both education and financial stability decline.
Not a bad scheme at work, here. The politicians get to claim that they "made the hard decisions" and kept the tax rates from increasing, and also has a built-in set of scapegoats when education is adversely affected. I'll lay down real money that these folks won't say "we cut education; of course there were consequences" but instead will say "test scores fell--what unmotivated students and incompetent teachers we have!"
My party embarasses me a little more each day. I feel another letter to my legislators coming on....
kugrad (anonymous) says…
Do these people have no shame? No honest member of the House (I know, I know) can say that they are not hearing from their constituents in favor of funding public schools. People all over the state are feeling the pain and writing their reps in Topeka, but they are not listening.
One local person to vote against is Anthony Brown (not to be confused with Tony Brown). He represents Eudora, North Lawrence, and parts of the Prairie Park region. He is anti-public education. Don't let him lie and tell you otherwise, which he will do. His votes speak louder than his words.
Hang your head in shame Kansans, our State government is an embarrassment.
merrill (anonymous) says…
The Kansas republicans should resign and seek therapy. They suffer from the "Grover Norquist let me do your thinking for you disease" .
Beware: TABOR Is Coming
After devastating government services in Colorado, the "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" threatens to spread as in has spread to Kansas...
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archiv...
BobandAlice (anonymous) says…
Everyone and anyone in Kansas must call, write, and email their state legislators! Tell them to support Governor Parkinson's budget proposal to raise state revenues! If you value education, your community, or Kansas, support raising state revenues - not cutting state funded programs!
To find your legislator:
www.kslegislature.org
merrill (anonymous) says…
I say CC the governor so he knows what voters are doing. I do not trust the controlling republican majority.
none2 (anonymous) says…
Tax coffee to pay for schools.
merrill (anonymous) says…
What are public schools?
A best bang for the tax buck!
What are public schools?
A best bang for the tax buck!
What is public Education?
The best payback on a tax buck!
What is public Education?
The best payback on a tax buck!
I will support the sales tax increase!
OR
the state could halt all NEW road building projects and put that new road pork barrel money into a project that pays back the taxpayers aka public education,higher education and vo-tech education.
New roads add miles and miles and miles of new tax dollar obligations at a time when Lawrence and the state cannot keep up maintenance on OUR existing roads.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
Jerks. That's all I can say.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
None of the usual suspects have offered to defend the right wing agenda, I see. I wonder if even they find shame in what is being done to dismantle the middle class in Kansas?
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
Maybe we can get the teachers union to kick in any other necessary funds.
parrothead8 (anonymous) says…
Education cuts never heal.
Politicans may claim that, when times are better, schools will get their funding back. In the meantime, however, students will never get these years of their education back.
jayhawklawrence (anonymous) says…
The Republican Party needs to look in the mirror.
We have Dick Cheney and Karl Rove promoting the torture of prisoners who are held without trial indefinitely.
Illegal spying on American citizens without any accountability.
This is not America.
This is something unbelievable.
Look in the mirror and tell me this is not happening.
This is only one issue. There are many.
We need a righteous Republican Party. This Republican Party is an embarrassment.
What is going on in Washington?
SouthWestKs (anonymous) says…
They need to feel the pain!! You have to live with-in your budget, why should not the schools.. If the state takes in less money, then the schools should get less the same as every body else.. So get a life & quit your whining..
Wow21 (anonymous) says…
Except big business, right SouthWestKS? Why do we have less money, could it be the huge tax cuts to the businesses that have promised thousands of jobs and increased tax revenue for the state due to employee spending? Where's that money at? When do we start seeing it? Notice not one of them will even touch these exemptions, why?
The tired old Republican mantra of tax cuts spur business has been shown to be nothing more than a fraud. There's no new business in Kansas and they're trying to cut their way out of the hole they've dug on the backs of kids, poor and the elderly, all so they can continue to get campaign contributions.
Kansas is not a business mecca. It is a midwestern state built on strong communities including strong school systems that produce educated workers who pay taxes and provide an infrastructure for future generations. Now we're throwing all of that away so Mike O'Neal and Kevin Yoder can continue to get free meals from business lobbyists.
And FYI - if you're too stupid to see they'd sell everyone (including you) down the river to get re-elected then you should do the state a favor and just not vote at all because it's your kind of people that perpetuate the absolute mess of idiocy that currently resides in that Capitol.
coloradoan (anonymous) says…
Quothe Gomer Pyle: Surpise! Surprise! Surprise! Really now, what did you expect? These buffoons value their palatial Statehouse (renovated at a cost of 285 million dollars-plus) over the needs of the disabled, the students, the state employees (no raise in eight years!), and basic infrastucture. Now, I don't like the way schools have spent their money on athletic facilities that pros would envy. That said, we have got to get a comprehensive approach to prioritizing the needs of our society.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
" don't like the way schools have spent their money on athletic facilities that pros would envy." If you are speaking of the new facilities at LHS (as some items at FSHS were built with private funds) are not anything the pros would envy. Heck, you must not have traveled to Shawnee MIssion or any other district that have nicer facilites than our new ones.
cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
Jonathan - paulette2 is violating the terms of use, and you know it. Please banish him from this site.
none2 (anonymous) says…
cheeseburger (anonymous) says…
Jonathan - paulette2 is violating the terms of use, and you know it. Please banish him from this site.
========================
I'm not following... What did Paulette2 do that violated the terms?
none2 (anonymous) says…
paulette2 (anonymous) says…
mom of three - that is totally incorrect expletive deleted.
those were NOT built with private funds that is a plain bald faced LIE.
the USD 497 board borrowed on a 10 year bond which requires $250,000 in interest per year in addition to principal payments. Principal comes out of 'capital outlay budget' not sure where interest comes from ask them for an audit ! if you want to know exactly.
====================
If you you say is true, then the school district should be ashamed of themselves. Saying that it is fine because the capital outlay budget is separate from other school district budges is a poor excuse to waste taxpayer's money in economic hard times.
goldwater (anonymous) says…
If anyone is interested, check out these sites to see statistics for tax cuts since 1995 and annual tax expenditure costs in Kansas.
http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/EstEffec...
http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/taxexpre...
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
SouthWestKs (anonymous) says…
They need to feel the pain!! You have to live with-in your budget, why should not the schools.. If the state takes in less money, then the schools should get less the same as every body else.. So get a life & quit your whining..
The only reason they aren't taking in enough money is because of all the corporate tax cuts. They aren't feeling any pain, and all the while they are gutting your children's education, they are shipping jobs overseas. Good little Republicans can follow these guys blindly into this new world they are creating, but if you don't already have lots of money, don't think they'll help you any.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
"If you you say is true, then the school district should be ashamed of themselves. Saying that it is fine because the capital outlay budget is separate from other school district budges is a poor excuse to waste taxpayer's money in economic hard times."
Please educate yourself. It isn't the school board that decides this. Again it's the jerks in Topeka. Vote them out. Better yet, how about a recall? They are blatantly violating the Kansas Constitution. Isn't that grounds for a recall. Listen up legislators. We will collect the names of any of you who favor these cuts and we will work towards your ouster. Your corporate sponsors aren't going to bail you out of this one.
weeslicket (anonymous) says…
when rural schools, and their communities,
begin shutting down;
.............. (you finish this line)
toe (anonymous) says…
Sometime ago, the public stopped supporting primary, secondary, and college education. I wonder why?
scott3460 (anonymous) says…
"Sometime ago, the public stopped supporting primary, secondary, and college education. I wonder why?"
I wonder if it had something to do with the consolidation of ownership of the mainstream corporate media. 20-30 years of steady propaganda in favor of a right wing agenda paying off on the investment?
bartstop (anonymous) says…
Want more tax revenue? Legalize marijuana. Want more jobs? Legalize marijuana. A good portion of the population already smokes pot on a regular basis. The demand is enormous. The Cartels are making $billions and $billions but don't pay a single penny in taxes. It's a natural plant that grows in the dirt but somehow it has become EVIL and will destroy our society. It's OK to strip our kids of their education but it's not OK to even poesses a plant that grows naturally in the soil. The whole situation is absolutely ridiculous.
Phog67 (anonymous) says…
We can all complain on here and hopefully those that read the comments will feel compelled to act. I made the decision to send money each month to the PTA to help fund certain things for my daughters school. Although it won't fix the overall problem, it's at least something. Also, I'm buying some books for the library as we were informed the school could no longer purchase any. I hope others pitch in where they can. Again, I know it's a small thing to contribute but I couldn't ignore the situation.
headdoctor (anonymous) says…
Destroying the public school system has been a long range plan of the Republican party all along. The economy along with how many of them are in the Legislature has just allowed the Kansas bunch to put school destruction on a faster track than some other areas of the Country.
What bites is in some areas of the State the school districts have played right into the Republicans hands both before the economic crash and since. I know the schools have to pay their bills but at this rate the more that Topeka sees the districts cutting to survive the less money the abominations of the Republican party is going to decide that the districts need.
headdoctor (anonymous) says…
bartstop (anonymous) says…
Want more tax revenue? Legalize marijuana. Want more jobs? Legalize marijuana. A good portion of the population already smokes pot on a regular basis. The demand is enormous. The Cartels are making $billions and $billions but don't pay a single penny in taxes. It's a natural plant that grows in the dirt but somehow it has become EVIL and will destroy our society. It's OK to strip our kids of their education but it's not OK to even poesses a plant that grows naturally in the soil. The whole situation is absolutely ridiculous.
_______________________________________________________________________
If they legalize some of these activities, how do you expect the government to pay for their off budget programs. LMAO. Remember, one shouldn't steal. The Government hates competition.
SnakeFist (anonymous) says…
Why not just close all of the schools? Then we'd finally do away with those pesky "intellectual elites". In the end, all we need is common sense, not education, right?
Seriously, when is Kansas going to wake up and stop electing republicans? Kansas is one of the least developed, backward states - it's the punchline of other states' jokes - because it clings to regressive conservatism.
bartstop (anonymous) says…
Don't blame me. I've never voted for a Republican and I never will. EVER.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
I'm trying to find out if this is true. Does Koch Industries really own 2 private schools. That would explain a lot if it's true.
true_patriot (anonymous) says…
Koch industries are in the top handful of national elite power players that are the heaviest funders of the pro-corporate takeover of our system of system of government. Their money makes its way through the networks to everything from the Tea Party movement to funding extreme right-wing media to organized effort to remove President Clinton from office (which started before he even took office).
Take_a_letter_Maria (anonymous) says…
none2 - paulette is simply back under his 200th (sic) user id. he's been banned so many times he has to use a random name generator to come up with a new user name.
paulette - MO3 stated that SOME of the FS facilities were paid for with private funds. Reading - it's FUNdamental.
true_patriot (anonymous) says…
It's not about "running rich folks off", it's about preventing a collosal predator from raping and pillaging while the 90% of Americans that share a tiny sliver of the remaining wealth have to pay their taxes to the business of running a country of 300 million people.
commuter (anonymous) says…
For all of you people who say we need to fund education more, do you take full advantage of the income tax rules?? If so, please feel free to send the state more money in income taxes. Do you pay sales or use tax on internet purchases that do not charge them?? If no, you are just hurting your own cause...
Maybe one day we will start to talk about how the districts spend their money. That is the main issue. Some people is Lawrence CHOOSE to keep small schools open. I can't wait to hear teachers complain that they want a raise and then I will point to those small schools being open and costing us more money.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
commuter
Most teachers realize they aren't going to get a raise, and some have even taken a pay cut to help schools make ends meet. When's the last time you told your employer that you would be willing to take a pay cut, so your "customers" wouldn't suffer.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
Oh yeah, commuter, when's the last time you went out and bought supplies for your "customers" without being reimbursed? When's the last time you had to go back to college or take other classes on your own dime so that you could continue doing your job?
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
"What is going on in Washington?"
president obama is fiddling with speaker pelosi as the economy crumbles and reid is trying to hide from his impending defeat in november. And some good ol back room deals and deems to shove through mandated purchases from corporations simply because you are an American. Its going to be funny watching you liberals whine because obama is making you support huge corporate profits.
Cheney and Rove are just private citizens that get paid lots of money to talk. If you don't want to hear them, don't pay them.
Liberty275 (anonymous) says…
"Oh yeah, commuter, when's the last time you went out and bought supplies for your "customers" without being reimbursed?"
I'm not commuter, but I pay $500 each month on tools and testing equipment to solve my customer's problems. None of it is reimbursed, and none is tax deductible.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
Cheney and Rove are just private citizens that get paid lots of money to talk. If you don't want to hear them, don't pay them.
Yes, after they ran our country and economy into the ground. Where were you tea people when they were running up the deficit, spending all the money on a foreign country instead of on our own country? They are unpatriotic at best, traitors at worst.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
I'm not commuter, but I pay $500 each month on tools and testing equipment to solve my customer's problems. None of it is reimbursed, and none is tax deductible.
You are obviously in business for yourself, although it sounds like you need to get another accountant. If you work for someone else, you should expect reimbursement. Also, if you don't pass that cost onto your customers, then you really need to take some business classes, or you won't last long in your business. To whom would teachers pass on their expenditures, and the schools can only reimburse so much.
pittstatebb (anonymous) says…
Commuter has hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Most of the instances bloggers report of waste in education have nothing to do with the per pupil expenditures the state set. They are all instances of choices made by local school boards. If a bond issue was passed to install field turf then it had to have passed in an election. This is not the issue at hand; declining revenue through tax exemptions, loss of jobs and reduced wages coupled with an out of date state tax code is the major issue. You cannot justify reducing ed. spending for the ENTIRE state because of what USD 497 does. Just as you cannot justify increasing taxes because a single district is threating to close buildings. LOCAL problems need to be solved locally, not at the state level.
ksfbcoach (anonymous) says…
Some people need to get a life. No one wants to destroy the education system. Not Republicans, not Democrats. Progressives? Yes. But no one would call Republicans Progressives.
The majority of waste in education is at the administrative level. Cut administration, save millions.
The budget is a mess. Everyone is too blame, Democrats and Republicans. When things were good, we spent too much, like many families do. Both Democrats and Republicans. We did not budget for a rainy day; like many families don't. Both Democrats and Republicans. That rainy day is here, and now some of the money going to education (as well as other areas) has to be pulled back. Lets suck it up, be a man/woman, and get thru it.
tomatogrower (anonymous) says…
ksfbcoach (anonymous) says…
"The budget is a mess. Everyone is too blame, Democrats and Republicans. When things were good, we spent too much, like many families do. Both Democrats and Republicans. We did not budget for a rainy day; like many families don't."
Why not in good times everyone didn't just suck it up and keep the same tax rates. It was the Republicans in Kansas who started cutting taxes, instead of putting the surplus away for a rainy day. And some schools are getting criticized, because they put some away in a contingency fund, so when the state is late with their payment, the school can still pay their bills. Why are they being criticized for doing this? It was the responsible thing to do. The people in Topeka are irresponsible career flunkies of big business.
coloradoan (anonymous) says…
Going back to my original post, which mom of three seemed really sensitive about. First, Mo3 I did not specify a school, but I am aware of significant expenditures made on athletic facilities generally. It doesn't matter where. And I don't live in Lawrence. The point of my post was, however, that we, as a society, need to set priorities - that was the last sentence. In setting those priorites, the issue is in part whether we value the Education (big E) of the students or do we value the trappings of the athletic facilities and the adminstrative buildings and the conferences? At the end of the day, are the students better prepared to meet the challenges of the next fifty years as a result of our choices, and are they well-rounded, so that they can appreciate the historical, political, economic, cultural and literary influences in our current situation, while becoming the lawyers, engineers and health care professionals that will move us forward?
If those are local choices, then act at that level. If the Legislative actions (whether State or Federal) stifle the ability to provide the Educational experience needed for our students' and our country's success, then act at that level. I was able to fulfill my hopes through a school system and parental support that made a path I could follow; I just had to do the work to get to my goals. I hope we can decide to at least make that path available for the current and subsequent generations.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…
Isnt this why we have school boards and superintendents? Isnt it up to them to make decisions for the school systems? What a wast of time, energy, and common sense.
commuter (anonymous) says…
Based onm my understanding of the Internal Revenue Code, teachers can reduce their Adjusted Gross Income for supplies purchased for their classroom upto $250 per year. If I supplies for my work, I can not start to expense them until it exceeds 2% of my AGI.
It seems like Paulette has a thing against what Koch is doing, from what I read it it legal. I bet Koch has been audited by the IRS & Kansas numerous times.
If people really want to increase taxes make sure they increase all tax rates. I am getting tired of hearing abiut the poor. The poor do not have to pay school fees, I do. The poor doesn't pay income taxes, I do. It gets old real quick.
Godot (anonymous) says…
Time to tax the tax-exempt so-called "charitable" entities. Look here:
"Illinois Supreme Court upholds ruling against Provena in tax-exempt case
Illinois’ highest court on Thursday ruled that state officials were justified in their decision to yank the tax exemption of Downstate Provena Covenant Medical Center for not providing enough charity care, a ruling that could have implications for thousands of hospitals nationally.
“In this decision, the Supreme Court upheld the denial of property-tax exemption for the tax year in question, agreeing with the appellate court that the record was inadequate to demonstrate that Provena was a charitable institution,” the state Supreme Court said in a statement.
In an opinion written by Judge Lloyd Karmeier, the Supreme Court found that Provena Covenant Medical Center should not receive a property-tax exemption because it fails to generate most of its money from private and public charity, did not clearly demonstrate that it "dispensed charity to all who needed it and applied for it" and "failed to meet its burden" of showing that the hospital complex is used exclusively for charitable purposes."
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bi...
Godot (anonymous) says…
Would the various university endowments and athletic funds meet the charitable trust as called for in this ruling? Taxing all that property would go a long way toward filling the budget gap and funding our schools.
rdragon (M. Lindeman) says…
beobachter (anonymous) says…
If you are a Republican, you do not ever want an educated voter. You would never get elected.
rdragon writes:
beobachter I think you mistyped, I think you ment if your a Democrate you do not ever want an educated voter.
Your welcome, I was glad I could help.
Brave21Hawk (anonymous) says…
rdragon,
Unfortunately you spoke loudly by what you just wrote. Ment is really Meant, Your is You're, and Demoncrate is really Democrat and the LJ World even has its own spell check.
If the state of Kansas wants the worst public schools in America, the legislature needs to just keep cutting and cutting. You can cut all the branches off a tree but if you don't replenish it in someway your shade and beauty will soon fade.
The legislators won't even allow each county to make decisions for themselves. Talk about "big brother." I feel so badly for the youngsters in school these days and thank God my children are now out. It has nothing to do with the schools or teachers, it's all about those stinking politicians in Topeka Kansas.
toe (anonymous) says…
Salary cuts are on the way.
kansasmutt (anonymous) says…
Keep the cuts coming. The districts might learn how to save money and teach smart. They might learn how to do a budget and stick to it. The time has come to cut the waste and TEACH , not impress. School districts lived on 35% until the 80s , and now that it is has been 65% , students are not as smart and and buildings are the main show. Administration cost’s have went up 10 fold.. Keep on cutin !!!!!!!!
Kookamooka (MJ Browne) says…
Yoder doesn't have kids. BUT...he does have a vested interest in KU athletics. Cut athletics from public schools and the republicans will change their tune.
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…
pittstatebb: " LOCAL problems need to be solved locally, not at the state level." === There is some truth to that, but it is small potatoes. 80% or so of Lawrence's general fund budget comes from the state general fund. The legislature has deliberately starved the general fund for years so they could get to the point we are now. You seem rational; I hope you run for the school board and help them out.
fly_on_wall (anonymous) says…
What doe's happen when our rural schools shut down? I don't really want to know. More important than voting the education cutting jerks out of office is replacing them with quality citizens. Who wants to be a legislator? I Love Kansas I live here because I Love it. Everyone should be civically active in order to sustain our democracy. It is false that we elect people to do a job and trust there decisions. Kansas was Farming when I was growing up, But because we let corporate farming run Family Farms out of business the State has really gone down hill. People care about people and corporations are not people. I miss our Farmers and I want a tightening of corporate tax exemptions and to repeal the rights of corporations as people. The more real people making money the more money there is the better the society will be. I think that is a Republican idea (or maybe Ford's) which is why I don't understand why the Republicans do not stand up against corporate interests.