TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Legislature’s debate over spending and tax-cutting proposals (all times local):
12:35 a.m. Friday
The Kansas Senate has approved a bill that would cut income taxes to prevent some individuals and corporations from paying more to the state following changes in federal tax laws.
The vote just after midnight Friday was 21-19. The House expected to take a vote later Friday that would determine whether the bill goes to Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer.
The measure would cut income taxes by roughly $80 million during the fiscal year beginning in July.
The bill would allow Kansas filers 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.
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8:33 p.m.
Kansas legislators have approved pay raises for state workers and extra funds to partially reverse past spending cuts on state university campuses.
The House and Senate passed a bill Thursday that would add millions of dollars in new spending to budgets approved by lawmakers last year for the state’s current fiscal year and the next fiscal year beginning in July.
The House vote was 98-23. The Senate vote was 26-14, and the bill goes to Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer.
The bill provides an additional $15 million to state universities to undo most cuts made in their operating budgets in 2016.
State workers would get at least a 2.5 percent pay raise. Uniformed corrections officers and employees who did not get a raise last year would receive 5 percent.
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6:18 p.m.
Kansas legislators are close to approving pay raises for state workers and extra funds to partially reverse past spending cuts on state university campuses.
The House approved a bill Thursday that would add millions of dollars in new spending to budgets approved by lawmakers last year for the state’s current fiscal year and the next fiscal year beginning in July.
The vote was 98-23. The Senate’s approval Thursday night or Friday would send the measure to Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer.
The bill provides an additional $15 million to state universities to undo most cuts made in their operating budgets in 2016.
State workers would get at least a 2.5 percent pay raise. Uniformed corrections officers and employees who did not get a raise last year would receive 5 percent.
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