City still not out of woods on state budget

For folks worried about a large cut in state funding to the city of Lawrence’s budget, it probably isn’t time to start breathing easy yet.

But the situation doesn’t look quite as dark as it did a month ago. If you remember, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ proposed budget called for the state to begin keeping liquor tax revenues that cities have traditionally received.

In the case of Lawrence, that amounts to about $1.7 million per year. A good chunk of that funding is used to fund outside agencies such as the Boys & Girls Club, DCCCA and Headquarters Counseling, along with several others.

The Kansas House and Senate Thursday night came to an agreement on the 2010 budget, and that agreement would allow Lawrence and other cities to keep the liquor tax funding.

But in talking with my colleague, veteran Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild, it probably is too early for Lawrence City Hall leaders to feel secure about the future of the liquor tax funding.

That’s because there are still bills pending in the House Taxation Committee that would keep the liquor tax funding for the state. Those bills aren’t going anywhere yet, but they may spring to life again.

On April 17, the state will re-estimate its revenue forecast, and the general thinking in the Statehouse is that the numbers may not be good. A worsening budget picture could cause the liquor tax money to come into play.

So, the best advice may be to sit back and let this thing play out. If it is your style, you might even have a drink while you wait.

The one thing that is for sure, is that it will be taxed one way or another.