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By Dodie Wellshear, Government Relations Consultant

2010 Legislature convenes under pall of budget woes & election year politics; governor calls further cuts “unacceptable”

The 2010 Legislature gaveled in at 2:00 pm Monday, January 11th, under the able leadership of Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson), Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, and Sen. Steve Morris (R-Hugoton), President of the Kansas Senate. The usual sense of energized anticipation was this year clouded with the knowledge that even after $1 billion in cuts to the state budget in the last year, the state is facing a shortfall of nearly $400 million in the next fiscal year just to maintain current service levels. With no additional revenue, the legislature would be required to cut even more aid to schools and other critical state services, causing the current BSAPP of $4,012—the lowest it’s been since the 2004-05 school year—to drop even lower.

Monday evening, Governor Mark Parkinson delivered a compelling State of the State Address to both chambers of the Kansas Legislature. Calling on 150 years of Kansas history and commitment to building a strong quality of life for future generations, he implored the Legislature and, indeed, all Kansans to maintain the commitment to quality education, healthcare, public safety, and economic development that have made Kansas such a great place for families and industry over the years.

To this end, the governor said he finds it “unacceptable”* to make further budget cuts that particularly impact Kansas’ most vulnerable citizens and proposed a revenue package that includes:

• $132.1 million in current state fund transfers (from Highway Fund, lottery revenues, etc.)
  
• $69.5 million by increasing the excise tax to the national average on cigarettes, from $.79 to $1.34, and tobacco products, from 10% to 40%; and,
  
• $308.2 million by temporarily increasing (3 years) sales tax one-percent, from 5.3% to 6.3%.

This revenue package, according to the governor’s plan, would allow the state to provide a modest BSAPP restoration of $50 per pupil.

What if the governor’s proposal or a similar revenue package is not passed? The cuts outlined in the 2010 State Budget Report as “unacceptable” to the governor include a further cut of $187.5 million in General State Aid to Schools and cutting nearly $1.5 million and eliminating the Mentor Teacher Program.

Historically, the Legislature has extended the courtesy of introducing budget/tax legislation requested by governors. This year, the House Taxation Committee did so, but the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee refused to do so.

In this area, as well as many others, election year politics and some political grandstanding are already coming to play. Although often frustrating, it is also what ensures it will always be interesting and that all of us need to stay involved in the process to make sure the progress we seek doesn’t get thrown under an election year bus.

*A transcript of the governor’s address is available on the USA|Kansas website at http://www.usakansas.org/

Action needed by school leaders

USA|Kansas is echoing a call by Governor Mark Parkinson this week for school leaders to start taking their message to parents, local businesses, and other district patrons regarding just how budget cuts have and will, if schools are further cut, impact classrooms and student services.

An example of this occurred on Friday of this past week. Dr. Brenda Dietrich, USD 437, Auburn-Washburn, held a forum for parents and members of the public, outlining the current and future impact of budget cuts. As shown on local Topeka stations, parents decried the cuts and the potential losses to student learning in their district.

School administrators have done an excellent job of taking the message to legislators and the governor. However, it will take parents, businesses, and other local patrons talking to their legislators—telling them that further cuts are unacceptable—for the Legislature to take appropriate action.

Now is the time to start holding forums with parents and community members, letting them know the state of affairs for your districts, and urging them to contact legislators. Just a simple call or email is what it will take—no form letters or petitions!

Committees of interest for the week of January 18th

Tuesday, January 19

9:00 am, House Education, Docking Bldg Room 711

• Presentation by Dale Dennis: Kansas Teacher of the Year honorees

10:30 am, Senate Ways & Means, Room 548-S

• Hearing on: SB 350—Supplemental appropriations (and recissions) for FY 2010 for various state agencies

1:30 pm, Senate Education, Room 152-S

• Presentation by Dale Dennis: Kansas Teacher of the Year honorees

Wednesday, January 20

9:00 am, House Education, Docking Room 711

• Presentation of Kansas Academy of Math & Science

1:30 pm, Senate Education, Room 152-S

• Presentation of Kansas Academy of Math & Science

Thursday, January 21

10:30 am, Senate Ways & Means, Room 548-S

• Update on Post Audits by Barb Hinton, Legislative Post Auditor

1:30 pm, Senate Education, Room 152-S

• Presentations by:
  • John Allison, USD 259, Wichita
    
  • Jim Lentz, USD 402, Augusta
    
  • Tom Trigg, USD 229, Blue Valley
    
  • Craig Wilford & Don Atkisson, USD 260, Derby
    
  • Jim Karleskint, USD 336, Holton