Governor cuts K-12, higher ed and more to fill $160 million shortfall

Thursday12:00 p.m.

TOPEKA - The governor on Thursday used $90 million in cuts to the state budget and various accounting maneuvers to fill a $160 million shortfall.

The move comes the day after fiscal year 2010 began and includes a 2 percent reduction to general state aid for kindergarten through 12th grade. Higher education also saw another 2 percent, or $15 million taken from its budget.

“There is no way to spin this that this is not going to create pain for them,” said Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat.

The state budget has already been cut three times since January, and this time departments who had watched their money disappear previously - such as the Department of Corrections - were left untouched.

While Parkinson’s moves eliminated a further $90.6 million, he leaned on more money coming from the federal government, delayed projects and other money sources to add $69.3 million back into the budget. The proposal does not include any tax increases or delay anticipated tax decreases.

Included in that portion of the proposal is:

  • $30 million in delayed road maintenance programs from the Department of Transportation

  • $2.8 million taken from the Health Care Stabilization Fund,

  • $4.15 million no longer needed to make Cessna bond payments.

The governor said he hoped the cuts would be enough to keep the budget in the black.

On Monday, Parkinson also said he plans to ask the State Finance Council to allow the state to borrow $700 million from its self to cover payments due in July.

Other cuts to the budget include:

  • 2 percent, or $641,512, reduction to Department of Health & Environment

  • 2 percent, or $132,477, cut to the School for the Blind

  • 2 percent, or $196,395, cut to the School for the Deaf

  • Eliminating $50,000 in grants for the Arts Commission.

Parkinson also gave his office, the lieutenant governor’s office and the Attorney General’s office 2 percent cuts totaling almost $250,000. He also asked Legislative Agencies, which include research, post audit and the Legislature to cut $540,000.

For more, read Friday’s Wichita Eagle.

By Jeannine Koranda | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Statehouse | Comments (9)

Kansas Coalition for Life endorses Dick Kelsey for congress

Thursday11:49 a.m.

kelseydick1The Kansas Coalition for Life has endorsed state Sen. Dick Kelsey for congress. The move gives Kelsey support from the anti-abortion group, which organized 1,846 consecutive days of protest outside George Tiller’s clinic. (The group condemned Tiller’s murder.)

“I’ve known him so long,” said the coalition’s president, Mark Gietzen. “He’s been a solid pro-life activist for, gosh, 20 years or so. He’s never been on the wrong side of an issue. We just feel that we can trust him.”

Gietzen said Kelsey has also been endorsed by the Concerned Women For America and Kansans for Truth in Politics.

The Kansans for Life political action committee has not made an endorsement in the race yet.

Kelsey will face Mike Pompeo in the Republican primary.  No one else has officially entered the race on the Republican side.

By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Parkinson to announce budget balancing plan today

Thursday6:15 a.m.

TOPEKA – Gov. Mark Parkinson is expected to announce more cuts to the state’s already-scaled back budget this morning.

Initial Department of Revenue numbers released Tuesday showed the Kansas wrapping up the 2009 budget year $126 million short of expected tax revenues. The new fiscal year started Wednesday.

Parkinson, who had told the Legislature in May he would take responsibility for cuts to this year’s budget, has the authority to make cuts where he sees fit.

The governor, a Democrat, is scheduled to discuss his plan to balance the budget at 11 a.m.

By Jeannine Koranda | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (7)

Could pay cuts, less management help Wichita’s budget crunch?

Wednesday3:13 p.m.

moneyCouncil member Janet Miller said she normally wouldn’t even consider looking at employees’ salary as a place to save money. But during the budget workshop Tuesday, she said it might be a reasonable alternative to layoffs and cutbacks that leave people without jobs and limit city services.

She asked that city officials examine a .5 percent or 1 percent pay cut as a temporary solution to the projected $13 million deficit the city is facing. She also focused on the ratio of management to lower ranks. “Can we spread some of this out on a shorter term basis?” she asked, as council members mulled eliminating as many as 101 positions in City Hall. “Maybe those aren’t good ideas.”

Her comments generated almost no discussion. The politics of pay can be a touchy subject, particularly in public meetings. But the idea may warrant some talk. For several years, most city employees have enjoyed a 4 percent cost of living raise and a merit-based pay increase of up to 2.5 percent. For many, that means a 6 percent raise each year. Of course, thousands of employees work under union contracts negotiated on a multi-year basis. (You can search for city employee salaries on The Eagle’s database.)

The city’s overall payroll, including benefits, climbed by 4.8 percent from 2007 to 2008 — or from $175,175,563 to $183,497,653. (See source)

Overtime pay has also been an issue. When The Eagle investigated overtime about a year ago, it found the city was paying more OT than anytime in the past five years. Some employees nearly doubled their salaries. Others out-earned their bosses with OT. At least 71 city workers earned more than $10,000 in overtime in 2007.

Overall, that meant $3.7 million in overtime pay. Officials, particularly in the transit department where bus drivers drew thousands in overtime, said they were working to limit that by hiring people more quickly to fill vacancies. Whether that is working remains to be seen.

By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)

McGinn rules out run for Congress

Monday2:57 p.m.

WICHITA — The list of potential contenders for Kansas’ 4th Congressional District shrank again today.

State Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, decided not to run and endorsed Mike Pompeo, president of Sentry International, an oilfield and industrial machinery company, and a Republican national committeeman.

McGinn said she plans to focus on projects on her family’s farm and on local issues.

Pompeo and State Sen. Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard, are the only Republican candidates to file for the seat thus far.

Kelsey recently drew an endorsement from former Kansas republican gubernatorial candidate Dr. Ken Canfield.

Other names that have been floated for the Republican side of the race include state Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Bel Aire; state Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita; state Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence; and Wichita businessman and entrepreneur Wink Hartman.

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Parkinson requests disaster designation for Cowley, Sumner and Cherokee counties

June 26, 200911:28 a.m.

TOPEKA - The governor Friday asked the federal government to help farmers impacted by this year’s harsh weather in Cowley, Summer and Cherokee counties.

“Declaring these counties agricultural disasters will allow farmers to apply for emergency loans administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. These loans can help Kansas farms recover from impact that severe weather has had on crops,” wrote Gov. Mark Parkinson said.

Parkinson, a Democrat, asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to declare the three counties agricultural disaster areas due to excessive rain, flooding, high winds and a freeze that occurred between late March and the end of May.

By Jeannine Koranda | Tags: , , , Filed under Statehouse | Comments (0)

WSU’s tuition will increase 8.5 percent next school year

June 25, 200912:49 p.m.

TOPEKA - Wichita State University students will pay 8.5 percent more in tuition next school year, but university officials plan to offset the increase through an automatic scholarship.

The increase, approved Thursday by the Board of Regents along with tuition jumps for all state universities, is higher than the 6 percent WSU had proposed in May.

With the augmentation, a full-time in-state WSU student will pay $2,248.50 per semester for classes. The automatic scholarship, funded by federal stimuli money, will apply only to in-state students, said WSU President Donald Beggs.

University of Kansas students will pay $3,283.50 for a semester’s tuition, up 6 percent from the current $3,097.50.

KU students enrolling in the school’s compact program which guarantees the same tuition rate over four year will increase to 7 percent to $3,679.50 up from the current $3,438.75

Kansas State University tuition will increase 3.9 percent to $3,093, up from $2,977.05.

Emporia State University has a small raise to $1,713 up 4 percent from this years $1,647 rate.

Pittsburgh State University students will pay $1,826, up 6.8 percent from $1,710.

Fort Hays State University tuition will jump 7.5 percent to $1,473, up from the current $1,370.25 per semester.

By Jeannine Koranda | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Statehouse | Comments (23)

Kansas scores well (relatively) in Center for Public Integrity standards for legislators

June 25, 200910:23 a.m.

kansas-capital Kansas state legislators got a relatively good grade in The Center for Public Integrity’s financial disclosure ratings. The state’s C grade makes it number 9 in the nation, behind places such as Louisiana, Washington and Texas.

Kansas dropped one spot since the last time the non-profit graded legislators’ financial disclosures in 2006. But it’s grade was the same — a C.

By Brent Wistrom | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Kelsey picks up an endorsement from Dr. Ken Canfield in his Congressional bid

June 24, 20095:31 p.m.

TOPEKA - State Sen. Dick Kelsey picked up an endorsement in his Congressional bit from former gubernatorial candidate Dr. Ken Canfield.

The Goddard Republican, who previously served in the Kansas House of Representatives, is hoping to replace U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Republican, who has his eyes set on the U.S. Senate seat.

“His reputation is excellent,” said Canfield in a written statement. “He is solidly pro-business, pro-family and pro-active in tackling issues that are essential to a prosperous future in the 4th District.”

By Jeannine Koranda | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Three Wichitans appointed to WSU board of trustees

June 24, 200910:59 a.m.

TOPEKA - The governor on Wednesday named three Wichitans to sit on Wichita State University’s Board of Trustees.

Gov. Mark Parkinson, a Democrat, reappointed Tony Madrigal and appointed Vernell Jackson and Tom Winters to the board.

The board manages property and funds the university receives through donations and other means.

Our universities and colleges greatly contribute to the prosperity of Kansas,” Parkinson said. “Administering the resources provided to Wichita State University is crucial to the success of the university, its students and the entire state. I am confident in the board’s abilities and grateful for their dedication.”

Jackson retired more than a year ago as a senior vice president of Administration for Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. He graduated cum laude from WSU with a bachelor’s degree and holds a master’s degree in business management. Jackson is active in the Wichita community as a member of the YMCA Wichita Black Achievers Program and serves on the boards of directors for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Wichita Community Foundation.

Winters is a former Sedgwick County Commissioner and has served on several boards, including the Wichita Area Technical College Advisory Board, the Workforce Alliance Board and the Information Network of Kansas Board.

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