The Republican tax relief plan has fallen short in an override effort.
Lawmakers in the Kansas House approved the override involving House Bill 2284, but gained 81 votes to send the measure to the Senate. They needed 84. 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington were in favor, while 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia voted against after originally supporting the plan. Schreiber says the January revenues missed projections by $63 million, putting the year-to-date revenues about $110 million below expectations.
The Republican plan was, in many ways, quite similar to a plan offered by Governor Laura Kelly — with the exception of the Republicans’ use of a 5.25 percent rate on income taxes above the first $6,150 for single residents or $12,300 for married couples. The governor said the flat tax gave tax relief only to the rich and vetoed the measure after it easily passed both chambers early in the session.
Smith says it was disappointing to see the override effort fail. He says discussions now turn to some sort of compromise.
Schreiber anticipates tax relief will come, perhaps this session. He’d like to see a compromise plan with relief for income, property and sales tax. Schreiber admits it will be difficult for lawmakers to make significant adjustments for property taxes, although there can be some relief by adjusting income tax brackets and speeding up the elimination of the food sales tax.
