Aide says Brownback flexible about school funding

? A top aide says Gov. Sam Brownback is willing to consider ideas from Kansas legislators for modifying his plan to overhaul how the state finances its public schools.

Brownback policy director Landon Fulmer briefed members of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday about the governor’s plan.

Senators questioned how funding for new buildings and bus services would work. The plan is designed to give the state’s 286 local school boards more flexibility, and, unlike the current school finance formula, it wouldn’t target money specifically for such items.

Fulmer said the governor will work with legislators on such issues.

But Fulmer already has said he doesn’t think a plan will pass unless it eliminates a state cap on local property taxes, as Brownback proposes.