Kansas budget-balancing plan summarized

With BC-KS--Kansas Budget

By The Associated Press

Key components of Gov. Mark Parkinson's plan for keeping Kansas' budget balanced:

-- TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS: $160 million for the fiscal year that began Tuesday, compared to $5.6 billion worth of previously authorized spending to be financed with state tax dollars.

-- ADDITIONAL CUTS: They total about $92 million and include additional 2 percent reductions for some agencies, including the governor's office, State Library and state schools for the blind and deaf. Social services and public safety agencies are largely spared.

-- AID TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: It drops an additional $39 million, costing the state's 293 districts an additional $62 per student in base state aid.

-- HIGHER EDUCATION: State universities, community colleges and technical schools lose an additional 2 percent of their state tax dollars, or $15 million.

-- HIGHWAY REPAIRS: The Department of Transportation will trim spending on road maintenance and other operations by $30 million. But the transfer of those dollars to other programs must be approved by legislators when they reconvene in January.

-- FEDERAL FUNDS: Because the state's unemployment rate has risen, Kansas is eligible for an additional $32 million in federal funds, which can then be used for expenses normally covered by state tax dollars.

-- SAVINGS IDENTIFIED: State agencies have identified almost $20 million in savings in their budgets. For example, the cost of some medical services and teacher pensions previously were overestimated.

-- REVENUE SHIFTS: Parkinson's administration identified $16 million worth of revenues in special funds that it believes can be transferred into the state's main bank account. Some transfers require legislative approval.