Kan. Senate passes bipartisan plan for raising taxes to avoid deficit in next state budget
By John Hanna, APThursday, May 6, 2010
Kan. Senate approves bill raising taxes
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Senate has approved a bill increasing the state’s sales tax, a measure aimed at preventing cuts in social services and aid to public schools.
The vote late Thursday night was 23-17. The bill goes to the House.
The bill would provide about $325 million for state government programs during the next fiscal year. It would raise the 5.3 percent sales tax to 6.3 percent on July 1, when the new budget year begins — boosting the cost of groceries, clothing and many other consumer goods.
The tax bill was drafted by Democrats and moderate Republicans. It would be necessary to balance their proposed $13.6 billion budget that protects social services and aid to public schools.
Conservative Republicans consider that approach irresponsible.
