Now that the regular part of the 2023 legislative session is over, lawmakers representing Lyon County are looking ahead to what’s left.
There aren’t a lot of policy matters left to address, but both 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine and 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber, both of Emporia, say the big item is ahead: the budget. And the big part left to handle is education funding.
Longbine says he’s pleased with how the budget is aligning, both for public school districts and higher education.
Aside from repeated attempts to allow state funding of private-school vouchers, which he does not favor, Schreiber says his main concern going forward is covering the special education funding gaps left unfilled by the federal government.
Longbine is also pleased with the Legislature’s decision to move to a flat 5.15-percent income tax because he believes residents will see some benefits due to exemption and deduction adjustments that were also part of the package. Schreiber says the Senate’s proposed 4.75 percent tax rate was too low, so he was pleased with the compromise after the House proposed a 5.25-percent flat tax.
The flat tax was also paired with ending the state food sales tax by Jan. 1, 2024, instead of Jan. 1, 2025. Local governments would then have the final say on tax percentages for food.
Longbine says the proposed constitutional amendment to cap property tax valuations at 4 percent is misleading because it doesn’t address property taxes themselves.
There was a flurry of votes in both chambers over the past week on gender policy, specifically dealing with transgenders in women’s sports or restroom access and gender-affirming surgery. Both Longbine, who was in favor of the bills that passed, and Schreiber, who was against most of the approved bills, say the Legislature’s work is largely behind the body — for now — with potential court filings ahead.
Both Longbine and Schreiber talked with KVOE News in advance of the latest Legislative Dialogue at Flint Hills Technical College as organized by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters Committee and the League of Women Voters Emporia chapter. 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington were unable to attend.
Lawmakers return to session April 24.
