Governor Brownback
Last Thursday, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback proposed revisions to the two year budget the Legislature passed last session.
“Due to the growing economy in Kansas, we are now able to make targeted and reasonable investments in key areas of our state,” said Governor Brownback.
The FY 2014 revised budget is $30.7 million or 0.5% greater than budget passed by the 2013 Legislature. It includes:
- $17.8 million to maintain base state aid per pupil at the current level
- $11.7 million for health and human services caseloads
- $9.3 million for the Career and Technical Education Initiative
- $5.2 million to restore the Regents salary cap cuts
The FY 2015 revised budget is $429.8 million greater than the budget passed by the 2013 Legislature. It includes
- $362.9 million for the Department of Corrections
- $20 million to maintain base state aid per pupil at the current level
- $16.3 million for all-day Kindergarten
- $15.3 million for the Career and Technical Education Initiative
- $5.2 million for a 1.5% salary increase for classified state employees
The revisions to the FY 2014 and FY 2015 reflect the Governor’s promise to maintain the state’s essential programs, while targeting key areas for additional investment. Included in this proposal is an increase to maintain the current funding level of the school finance formula. It also includes the cost to phase in all-day kindergarten, which guarantees every Kansas child has access to kindergarten. The Governor’s technical education initiative has been successful and needs additional money to continue providing this education to all students wanting to access the opportunity.
During the 2013 session, the Legislature passed a budget which reduced the appropriation for the Kansas Department of Corrections in FY 2015. The Governor’s proposal restores the $362.9 million budget.
Governor Brownback has also proposed a 1.5% salary increase for classified state employees. These employees have not had a salary increase since 2009.
Kansans can read more about the Governor’s budget online at https://budget.ks.gov.
—Press release via Office of the Governor
