Area/State Colby Free Press Monday, December 14, 2009 Page 3 Weather Governor may offset state budget with tax hikes From “TAXES,” Page 1 the state’s financial problems are likely to message to legislators and others by using and Parkinson’s secretary of revenue — Corner linger. Tapping stimulus dollars now — or stimulus dollars to avoid deeper cuts in fis- have been passing out charts about various Seth Bundy said last week. even in 2011 — only postpones some tough cal 2010. The $86 million will supplant state tax breaks granted over the past 15 years. A sour national economy and lower-than- decisions, they say. dollars for general aid to public schools, but The charts show that these tax breaks expected tax collections in Kansas have led “You pay the piper at some point,” said leave less for schools next fiscal year. will cost the state $869 million in general this year to five rounds of budget adjust- Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair- Before this year, the state had been ratch- revenues in fiscal 2010. The figure even ments. man Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican. eting up spending on public schools, a re- takes into consideration tax increases ap- In the current budget, as revised, the But Parkinson’s statements in announc- sponse to a state Supreme Court ruling in proved in 2002 to help close a budget gap state’s general tax revenues will cover about ing the latest round of adjustments last lawsuit filed by school districts. that year. $5.35 billion in spending. That’s almost 12 month suggest where his administration is The state’s base aid rose $570 per stu- In 2002, Gov. Bill Graves used similar percent less than in the previous fiscal year, headed. Even as he trimmed spending, he dent, nearly 15 percent, from the 2004-05 charts in pushing for an increase. The mes- but the state is using federal money to close decried the effects of what he was doing. school year to 2008-09. At the start of 2009, sage was the same as it is this year: The state much of that gap. He said social-service programs faced it was $4,433 per student. was generous in the past and now needs to Before Parkinson’s actions in November, potentially “crippling” cuts and that public Now, even with the stimulus funds, it’s take a small part of them back so it won’t National Weather Service the state had $276 million in stimulus mon- school classes would get larger. He said su- dropped back down to $4,012 — down cripple schools and programs. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a ey available to plug into the budget in fis- pervision of former prison inmates would $421 per student, or nearly 10 percent off Of course, plenty of legislators, particu- low around 3. Northeast wind 5 cal 2011, which begins July 1. Now, there’s become more lax and roads would be less its high point. larly Republicans, disagree. they worry that to 10 mph becoming south. $190 million left. well maintained. And State Budget Director Duane Goos- any revenue-raising measures might ham- Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a State officials predict Kansas tax collec- “He now has a straw man to go to the sen said: “We’re operating from the pre- per an already slow economic recovery. high near 25. Wind chill values tions will drop next year by about 3 percent, public and say, ‘I made all these cuts, now sumption that this is as deep as we should But Parkinson’s administration still is as low as -10. South wind be- to less than $5.2 billion, giving legislators let’s increase taxes,” said House Appropria- go.” drifting toward proposing some increases tween 10 and 15 mph. another projected deficit to tackle. tions Committee Chairman Kevin Yoder, an Goossen didn’t say specifically that the next year. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, Some GOP leaders argue there’s little Overland Park Republican. same presumption carries forward into the with a low around 15. South wind reason to postpone budget cuts because Parkinson’s administration also sent a next fiscal year, but fellow Democrats — around 10 mph. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind KU Medical Center struggles to cope with cuts between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday Night: Partly KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) on the effort to achieve National to other sources of money. has, in many cases, forced profes- to proceed with business as nor- cloudy, with a low around 20. — At the University of Kansas Cancer Institute designation. For example, a typical profes- sors to do more professional work mal. Thursday: Sunny, with a high Medical Center, state budget cuts While the Kansas Bioscience sor in the School of Medicine is to maintain their incomes. This Still, the threat of additional near 47. are forcing enrollment cuts, ham- Authority provides some money a medical doctor who has two means doctors are seeing more pa- layoffs and potential furloughs, Thursday Night: Partly pering an effort to obtain National to recruit new faculty, the ability to sources of income — money from tients, and have less time to spend which have not yet been deemed cloudy, with a low around 22. Cancer Institute designation and retain professors once they arrive the state for teaching and instruc- on teaching. necessary, looms, she said. Friday: A 20 percent chance causing even more staff reduc- is compromised, Phillips said. tion, and clinical revenue from Karen Wambach, associate pro- “I think that anybody in higher of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a tions. “It’s the state budget that pro- patients. fessor of nursing and chair of KU education is thinking about (bud- high near 39. Only about 2,400 students pay vides for those things,” he said. As state money has dwindled, Med’s faculty assembly, said that get issues) every day,” she said. Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, tuition on the Medical Center State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Law- Phillips said, KU Medical Center for the most part, people continue with a low around 19. campus, leaving its budget much rence, minority leader in the Kan- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with more reliant on state funding than sas House, said the state may begin a high near 35. other regents institutions. to look at eliminating some tax ex- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, And yet, when it comes to al- emptions or tax credits as officials with a low around 13. locating state cuts over the past work to resolve upcoming budget LOCAL TV LISTINGS Sunday: Sunny, with a high year and a half, the medical center issues. But, he said, there’s still “a near 34. has had to absorb pretty much the good deal of anxiety” about rais- sponsored by the Friday: High, 36; Low -1 same hits as other universities. ing taxes in a difficult economic Saturday: High, 41; Low 4 Ed Phillips, vice chancellor for climate. Sunday: High, 39; Low 7 administration, said the center lost “When the Legislature began $14.4 million in state money since looking at budget cuts, I was Precip: Friday 0.00 inches July 2008. That’s about equal to concerned that we would start Saturday 0.00 inches the entire combined budgets for impacting some real vital invest- Sunday 0.00 inches the School of Nursing and the ments that the state has made, and Month: 0.45 inches School of Allied Health. certainly the Cancer Center is one Year: 26.05 inches Nearly 70 percent of the cen- of those programs that we want to Tuesday Evening December 15, 2009 Normal: 20.34 inches ter’s state revenue and tuition dol- see succeed in the future,” Davis 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 (K-State Experiment Station) lars are tied up in payroll, Phillips said. KAKE/ABC Charlie Brown Scrubs Better the forgotten Local Nightline Jimmy Kimmel Live said. The cuts have had a direct im- KBSL/CBS NCIS NCIS: Los Angeles The Good Wife Local Late Show Letterman Late Late Sunrise and Sunset KSNK/NBC The Sing-Off The Jay Leno Show Local Tonight Show Late Tuesday 7:57 a.m. 5:22 p.m. It’s likely KU will continue to pact on employees, as well. Sev- KSAS/FOX So You Think Gordon Ramsay: Cook Local Wednesday 7:58 a.m. 5:22 p.m. have to limit or reduce enrollment enty-nine positions have been Cable Channels (U.S. Naval Observatory) in the schools of nursing and al- sliced from the payroll — includ- A & E Criminal Minds Psychic Kids Paranormal State Paranorma Paranorma Criminal Minds lied health, he said, and the cuts ing 46 layoffs — and an additional AMC The Green Mile Hunt-Oct. are beginning to have an impact 360 employees have been shifted ANIM I'm Alive The Haunted I Shouldn't Be Alive The Haunted I Shouldn't Be Alive BRAVO Salon Takeover Salon Takeover Salon Takeover Salon Takeover Launch My Line CMT Nanny 911 Cable Guy's Christmas Luau Smarter Smarter Ron White: Call Me Tater Salad CNN Campbell Brown Larry King Live Anderson Cooper 360 Larry King Live COMEDY Scrubs Scrubs S. Park S. Park S. Park S. Park Daily Colbert S. Park S. 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