Governor Parkinson Outlines Plan for Balancing Budget

March 05, 2010

By Kim Hynes (TOPEKA, Kan.)

Governor Mark Parkinson announces his ideas on how to balance the 2010 budget. He says there's an $106 million shortfall they need to fill.

Read Governor Parkinson's Entire Plan Here

He wants to fill most of that gap through roads, seat belt laws and KPERS. He proposes canceling scheduled highway maintenance through the rest of the year. That would be a $28 million savings this fiscal year and another $59 million in the future. He says these projects should not cause any harm to the public.

He also wants lawmakers to pass a primary seat belt law. If that happens, Kansas will receive $11 million in federal dollars.

Finally, he wants to put a moratorium on payments to the death and disability fund for KPERS for one quarter of this year. That would save the state $12 million.

In order for these three budget changes to happen, lawmakers have to approve his ideas. The rest of the shortfall will be made up through a series of cuts, transfers and adjustments to the budget.

Parkinson says these changes will only get the state through the fiscal year of 2010, which ends in June 30th. He says the only way things are going to improve in the future is if lawmakers repeal some of the tax breaks they've given to businesses.

Parkinson says lawmakers have been on a tax cutting binge for 20 years. He says those cuts have resulted in a $9.5 billion loss for the state. He says average Kansans haven't benefited from those cuts, only special interests.

Parkinson says if tax breaks are not repealed in the future, the only way Kansas will be able to generate revenue is through a sales tax. He says it's not the best form of public policy, but without a new source of revenue the state won't be able to afford education or assistance for the disabled and elderly.

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