TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate over spending and tax-cutting proposals (all times local):
8:02 p.m.
Kansas lawmakers have advanced proposals to restore some past spending cuts on state university campuses and give pay raises to state employees.
House and Senate negotiators wrapped up their work Wednesday evening on spending legislation. The bill would make dozens of changes in $16 billion-plus budgets approved last year for the state’s current fiscal year and the next fiscal year beginning in July.
Their measure would provide an additional $15 million for higher education to reverse a majority but not all cuts made in university operating budgets in 2016.
The bill would give state employees at least a 2.5 percent pay raise. Employees who didn’t receive a raise last year would get 5 percent.
Both chambers could consider the measure Thursday.
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7:07 p.m.
Kansas legislators are looking to cut income taxes between $70 million and $85 million a year because some individuals and corporations would otherwise pay more to the state following changes in federal tax laws.
House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday evening on the details of tax-cutting legislation. Their measure could be considered in both chambers Thursday.
The negotiators agreed that Kansas filers should be allowed to claim itemized deductions on their state tax forms even if they don’t itemize on their federal forms. They can’t do that now.
The federal changes last year limited some deductions and raised the federal standard deduction. That would cause fewer Kansans to itemize on their state forms.
The negotiators also agreed on changes in business taxes aimed at avoiding a “windfall” in state revenues.
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5:43 p.m.
Kansas legislators are moving ahead with proposals to cut income taxes so that some individuals and corporations don’t pay more to the state because of changes in federal tax laws.
House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday on several proposals during ongoing talks on the final version of tax-cutting legislation. Lawmakers hope to approve a tax bill this week.
The negotiators agreed that Kansas filers should be allowed to claim itemized deductions on their state tax forms even if they don’t itemize on their federal forms. They can’t do that now.
The federal changes limited some deductions and raised the federal standard deduction. That would cause fewer Kansans to itemize on their state forms.
The negotiators also agreed on changes in business taxes aimed at avoiding a “windfall” in state revenues.
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