Gov. Mark Parkinson repeated his calls to use new taxes, not budget cuts, to solve Kansas’ financial problems as lawmakers recessed last week for a month without passing a budget for fiscal 2011.
Parkinson said further budget cuts would cripple the state’s economy, and urged lawmakers to listen to their constituents before returning to Topeka for a budget session that begins April 28.
“Do Kansans want them to continue cutting schools, highways maintenance, and aid to the elderly and disabled?” he said. “Or, do Kansans want the Legislature to raise the revenue needed to protect these critical assets?”
Parkinson said he has already cut the fiscal 2010 budget by $1 billion, and few options remain for additional cuts that would not affect essential government services. Key lawmakers agree, he said.
“Legislators that are traditionally considered as conservative have confided in me and some have spoken openly about the fact that we simply cannot cut any more,” Parkinson said.
The Legislature has been cool to Parkinson’s call for an increase in the cigarette tax and an increase in the sales tax of 1%, but he said tax increases must be part of the solution.
Parkinson was encouraged by preliminary reports that show general fund revenue collections exceeded expectations by $12 million in March, but said revenues for the fiscal year are about $93 million less than predicted when the budget was developed.
