Kansas legislators mull plan to increase sales tax

? Bipartisan groups of Kansas legislators have essentially narrowed their options for propping up the state budget to raising the state’s sales tax.

Democrats and moderate Republicans in both chambers were pursuing a proposal Thursday to increase the state’s sales tax from 5.3 percent to 6.3 for three years.

The House planned to debate a $13.6 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. It would protect aid to public schools and preserve social services funding but require a tax increase to balance.

It’s similar to a spending plan approved Wednesday night by the Senate on a 23-17 vote.

The bipartisan coalitions in both chambers appeared Thursday to be gravitating toward a Senate proposal to increase taxes $350 million, mostly through the sales tax boost.