The Kansas House adopted the state’s fiscal 2012 budget early in the morning of Friday the 13th on the last day of the 2011 session, sending the measure to Gov. Sam Brownback.
The 3 a.m. vote in the House was 69 in favor and 55 opposed.
The Senate passed the $13.8 billion budget several hours earlier by a margin of 28 to 11.
Republicans hold 32 seats in the 40-member Senate and 92 seats in the 125-member House.
The measure was developed by a conference committee that reconciled House and Senate spending plans.
If revenues come in as anticipated next year, the state government will wind up with a $50 million surplus at the end of fiscal 2012, according to House Republicans.
The nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department said the bill would result in a $71 million surplus.
The budget reduces current spending on public education and social services to help resolve a $500 million revenue shortfall caused by the end of federal stimulus spending.
Total spending is reduced by 5% to 6% from fiscal 2011 appropriations, but general fund spending is increased by 6% to $6.07 billion from $5.7 billion in the current budget.
The official state revenue forecast calls for revenue collections to increase in 2012.
Brownback said the fiscal 2012 budget was the reflection of a tough economic atmosphere.
“This is the way it is going to be for the next five years just because the federal government is so broke,” the Republican governor said.
The budget will lower the formula for state spending on local education by $232 per student.
Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate chamber, said the cuts were too severe.
He said he expects revenues to increase as the economy improves, and criticized the early termination of a multi-year plan to bring state employee salaries up to those paid in the private sector.
“As the economy recovers, there’s no reason to force these sweeping cuts,” Hensley said.
“By reneging on this promise, thousands of state employees who maintain our highways, provide our public safety, and care for the disabled will continue earning far below their private-sector counterparts,” he said.
