New fiscal forecast leaves Kansas with $400M budget hole

TOPEKA, KAN.
Kansas must fill a $400 million hole in its next budget after officials cut projections for tax collections from now through June 2016, a top adviser to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said Monday.

Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said the governor plans to outline proposals this week for the GOP-dominated Legislature that would trim up to $90 million in spending during the fiscal year that begins July 1. Sullivan said much of the savings would come from lower-than-expected social services costs, and the governor expects to spare public schools and higher education.

But the remaining gap still would be far larger than the $150 million in general tax increases that Republican legislators anticipated needing to balance the budget.

The state's budget problems arose after Brownback successfully pushed lawmakers to cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 in an effort to stimulate the economy. The governor wants to preserve those cuts as much as possible.

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The party of "fiscal responsibility" strikes again....