Topeka ? Kansas officials are waiting for word on whether state tax collections in September met expectations.

The state Department of Revenue’s report Tuesday afternoon was expected to renew a political debate over massive income tax cuts enacted at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging. Brownback says the tax cuts are stimulating economic growth, but critics contend the reductions are wrecking the state’s finances.

The Legislature’s nonpartisan research staff is predicting that the state will face a $238 million budget shortfall by July 2016, even if tax collections meet the state’s official projections between now and then.

Kansas’ tax collections in July and August combined met expectations, but the collections in April, May and June fell a total of $334 million short of expectations.