State budget, governor's tax plan discussed at legislative forum
The state budget and Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax plan were just some of the hot topics discussed Saturday morning during the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s legislative forum.
A total of 43 people attended the hour-long legislative forum at the Hutchins Building on Saturday that included updates from Kansas Sen. Dennis Pyle (R-Hiawatha), 61st District Rep. Becky Hutchins (R-Holton) and 62nd District Rep. Randy Garber (R-Sabetha).
The lawmakers spent the first 25 minutes of the forum outlining what committees they serve on and what bills are making the most noise this session before taking questions from those present.
It was noted that lawmakers have agreed to delay about $100 million in KPERS payments (the state pension plan) to help fund public education this year and to pay it back this fall at eight percent interest.
One person in attendance asked how legislators are able to promise that the payment would be made when state revenues are coming in lower than expected.
Sen. Pyle said that the budget year for the state begins July 1, and that, in essence, the state is just delaying the KPERS payment. He said the repayment and the interest will be built into the 2017 budget.
“What it does, it allows the governor to use that funding for education and lessen the payment to KPERS short term. I don’t think it’s good policy,” he said. “I’ve had three phone calls since Wednesday morning about KPERS. A lot of people think it’s going to reduce their check in some way and that’s not what this does.”
The governor’s tax policy, and the lack of economic growth in the state, was also addressed.
“Revenues have actually gone up,” Pyle said. “We closed the books on June 30 with an actual $275 million for the 2015 year over the 2014 budget year. The problem is we overestimated revenue and underestimated expenditures. We budgeted for five percent growth, and we’re just over two percent.”
Rep. Hutchins echoed Pyle’s comments.
“It is true, we brought in more revenue last year than the year before, but we’re spending more and a lot of it is out of our control,” she said.
Hutchins also addressed the school realignment bill that was discussed as a possibility to consolidate many school districts in Kansas.
“It was introduced, and we had a hearing,” Hutchins said. “There’s nothing wrong with that because it’s good to come and hear the pros and cons and get it out in the open for discussion. Did I support it? No. There was not even enough support to work the bill so it stayed in committee. It did raise some lively discussion.”
Rep. Garber addressed funding for the Osawatomie State Hospital, which was decertified in December and no longer receives Medicare payments to care for people who have severe mental illnesses.
“We’ve heard testimony in one of my committees on what is being done to get federal funding back to that hospital,” Garber said. “It’s very critical to have that facility and to be able to use all the beds it has.”
The lawmakers and constituents also discussed more transparency among lawmakers during the meeting, which was hosted by the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
