On March 31st we passed out of the house the AMega Appropriations Bill@ via the Conference Committee Report, which is the compromise budget that the house and senate conferees agreed upon. The hard work of compromise left most of the house members upset about some portion of the budget that did not fully fund something or somebody.
It is now the governor=s turn to act on this budget.
The approved State General Fund (SGF) expenditures for FY 2010 total $5.76 billion, which is a decrease of almost $422 million or 6.8% below the FY 09 amount. FY 2010 includes a net increase of federal economic stimulus funds of $293.4 million, which is used to offset SGF expenditures.
Tax only revenues were $57 million less in March than projections, this shortfall includes revenues for the current fiscal year and FY 2010 as well. The revenue numbers released this afternoon by the Kansas Department of Revenue add to a four-month drop in receipts, and March was the biggest drop since the Nov. 4th Consensus revenue Estimate.
Fiscal year-to-date receipts are off $135 million from the not too encouraging report of last November. These numbers will be used to help make the mid-April estimate. In March the most dramatic drop was in individual income taxes, off $48.2 million from the expected $190 million estimate, a 25% shortfall.
Sales taxes were off $5.6 million from the estimate of $135 million, or 4.2%. We are still spending much more money for services and other items than we are bringing in. This can not continue and we have to get the income up. Many would say we have made enough budget cuts and we have to raise taxes before any more cuts are offered. What say you?
The following information comes from the 2009 report from the Tax Foundation, 2001 L street, NW Suite 1050, Washington DC 20036. www.TaxFoundation.org. This is how Kansas ranks.
Kansas Debt Per Capita (resident) $2,050, #38 Total US $3,124.00 Mass. $10,546.00 #1
Kansas Beer Excise Tax $0.18 #27, Alaska $1.07 #1, Wyoming $0.019 #50
Kansas Gasoline Tax $0.25 #21, N.Y. $0.41.3 #1
Kansas Cigarette Excise Tax $0.75 #32, New York, $2.75 #1.
Kansas tax Spending per household, $4,766.00, Alaska $13,508, #1
Kansas State and local tax burden as a percentage of income, 9.6% #21, New Jersey 11.8% #1.
State and local individual income tax per person. $874.00 #22.
TransCanada Corporation and its affiliates are planning to construct and operate a new 2,148 mile pipeline. It will extend from Hardisty, Alberta Canada to the U.S. Midwest markets in Illinois and Oklahoma. This pipeline will carry crude oil through Kansas on its way to Cushing Oklahoma.
This new pipeline is designed to pass through Washington, Clay, Dickinson, Marion, Butler and Cowley Counties in Kansas. It is projected to be 36 to 42 inches in diameter with a capacity of 590,000 barrels per day.
In preparation for the pipeline crossing Kansas, commercial arrangements with landowners are already underway. TransCanada is negotiating right-of-way easements, once the right-of-ways have been secured, construction will begin later next year.
The mission of the State Library of Kansas is to lead in the provision, promotion and support of the excellent library and information services to legislators, state government and all Kansans.
One of the first actions taken by the Kansas Territory in 1855 was to pass an act providing for the Aregulating and managing of the Territorial Library=; this library was the nucleus of the present State Library located in the State Capitol building in Topeka.
When Kansas entered the Union in 1861, the first legislature defined the State Library by ordering that Athe books, pamphlets, maps and charts belonging to the state...shall compose the State Library and be kept in the office of the Auditor of the State, who shall be the ex-officio librarian.@.
In late December, the Gates Foundation announced a pilot project in seven states, including Kansas, to help plan for and sustain Internet access in public libraries.
Reflecting the move to a digital world, another level of resource sharing across the state is through Audio Books, Music & More. Late summer, the digital audio book downloads became compatible with most device models, including iPod, iPhone, iTouch, Zune and thousands of other MP3 players.
Audio Books, Music & Moree is a cooperative project with libraries across the state jointly purchasing copies for the collection. To date, approximately $365,000 has been invested in titles that everyone in the state may access, see www.kslib.info.
I consider it an honor and privilege to serve you in Topeka and I want to know what you think. Please contact me at, john.grange@house.ks.gov, or call 785-296-7655, my home phone is 316-321-2087. Mail; can be sent to 1115 Rim Rock Road, El Dorado, 67042. Previous updates may be accessed at www.johngrange.net. Thanks, John
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