Public schools take hit in Kan. gov.'s budget cuts

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday slashed $56.5 million from the state's budget, most of it from public schools, after fellow Republicans who control the House and Senate failed to agree on where to trim spending to reach a constitutionally mandated balanced budget.

Brownback's action would get the state's budget to zero for the fiscal year, assuming revenue collections through June meet expectations. State law gives the governor the authority to impose budget cuts, but only to get to zero, not create a cushion.

"I wish we didn't have to do this," Brownback said. "It's been difficult, but it's something we need to do."

The Department of Education said the cuts reduce the state aid by $75 per student — from $4,012 to $3,937. However, the per-student cut would really only be $22 because the governor's plan also would offset some of the reductions by applying $35 million from a federal jobs grant to schools.

The governor asked legislators during his Jan. 12 State of the State address to send him a bill that would cut spending and give Kansas $35 million in reserve to carry forward. Those dollars are necessary with the state facing a projected deficit in 2012 of $493 million.

"We must return fiscal sanity to government," Brownback said Friday. "We must grow our economy to have resources to work with."

Other cuts include reductions in the operating budgets for the attorney general, arts commission, Department of Wildlife and Parks and higher education.

Brownback linked the schools cut to funding to cover federally mandated expenses for increased health care and social services caseloads. It wasn't immediately clear what would happen if didn't take that action.

The House and Senate passed rival versions of a cuts bill in February. Negotiators have since failed to reach a compromise, partly because the House's 92 Republicans are collectively more conservative than their 31 Senate counterparts, who want fewer reductions and more protections for K-12 education.

Brownback informed legislative leaders earlier this week that he would take matters in his own hands if negotiators couldn't agree on a bill. Talks appeared to break down Thursday evening over differences about how much of a revenue cushion to leave the state heading to the next fiscal year.