|
Weekly Update Feb. 9-13, 2009
Summary of FY2009 Kansas State Budget Bill
This update is from the Office of the House Majority Leader, summarizing the work of the legislature and the key issues being discussed in Topeka. These updates give you good insight and should be a helpful way for citizens of the 39th District to follow the developments of issues and legislation that affect all Kansans.
Message from the House Majority Leader:
This week has been all about wrapping up the 2009 budget negotiations with the Senate so that we can move forward with 2010 and beyond. While the cuts were tough to make, they are very necessary in providing a long term solution to the structural imbalance in the budget. Included below are the basic facts of the 2009 rescission bill. We expect the Senate to pass the bill and the Governor to do the right thing by the people of Kansas and sign this bill into law.
2009 Rescission Conference Committee Facts
House Sub for Sub for SB 23 as Agreed to by the House and Senate Conferees
- House Sub. For sub SB 23 makes $325 million in revenue and expenditure adjustments for the remainder of the 2009 Fiscal Year, including $201 million in expenditure adjustments.
- Makes across the board reduction the State General Fund (SGF) of $27.8 million or 1.25% excluding debt service, K-12 funding and human services caseloads. Reduces all non-SGF agencies by 3.0%
- Reduces K-12 funding 1.0% (note - this is in addition to the Gov's freeze which has an estimated growth impact of $17.7 Million). This equates to overall reduction of $66 dollars per pupil to the base-state-aid formula (BSAPP) and includes a 1% cut to Special Education.
- K-12 is 51% of our total state budget but it takes a 3% smaller cut than any other area of state spending.
- Transfer 50% of the M&E slider on March 2 to counties, paying out the remaining 50% on June 1.
- The plan provides $2 million in additional funding for the physically disabled waivers and creates a rolling waiting list during which time people with disabilities can be replaced as they heal and move off the list. The Governor recommended a freeze of the wait lists.
- Repays the special city county highway fund in FY 2011 instead of the Governor’s plan to stop payment.
- Does not include the majority of the "fee sweeps" from non-SGF agencies as proposed by the Governor.
- Transfers $2.9 Million from State General Fund to the WCGME (Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education) Special Revenue Fund to provide additional residency slots for the doctoral program in Wichita.
- Restores $2 million in Economic Development Initiatives Fund to Kansas Inc. and Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp.
- The Conference Committee reversed the decision to reduce the Children’s Initiatives Fund by 4.0% or $3.1 million.
- Limits transfers from the State General Fund to the Health Care Stabilization Fund to $2.8 million, or 6.5% less than the estimated FY 2009 transfer.
It is an honor to serve as your Representative. If you have any questions or concerns, budget or otherwise, please contact me.
|
