As expected, members of the Kansas House of Representatives have passed their version of the upcoming budget as well as an adjustment to an education funding bill passed earlier this month.
On Saturday, the House voted 97-22 to authorize up to $80 million that would be linked to local property tax assessments for public schools, according to the Topeka Capitol-Journal. The bill still says each district has to assess a 15 percent minimum local option budget, but the House proposal drops a plan that would use revenue from the LOB floor to raise the average state aid per student.
Lawmakers found the education funding bill passed in early April was short around $80 million, although they discovered the flaw after they voted on it.
Friday’s main action was to pass a $16 billion budget, which includes pay raises for judicial branch employees and restoration of $12 million to colleges and universities. There is also a much larger payment to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System — $194 million instead of Gov. Jeff Colyer’s suggestion of $82 million.
