Brownback will cut what from where?

The largest tax increase in state history, which ended the longest legislative session in state history, was supposed to stabilize Kansas’ finances and prevent further budget cuts or tax hikes. But the fervent hopes of June are faltering in October, after revenues missed estimates for the first three months of the new fiscal year and were $32 million off in September.

Even some GOP allies of Gov. Sam Brownback predict he’ll be forced to cut spending before the Legislature reconvenes in January. But cut what from where?

After all, it was the inability to slice more deeply into state spending that drove a majority of conservative lawmakers to do the unthinkable and raise sales and other taxes by $384 million. Throwing up their hands after 113 days in session, they also left it to the governor to make $50 million in unspecified cuts and they set aside $3 million to hire out-of-state efficiency experts to find more.

In remarks last week and a Monday statement from his office, the governor has continued to say there are no plans for across-the-board cuts or tax increases. He may get some help from collections that come in during the tax amnesty period, which ends Thursday. But the gimmicks and fund sweeps, including the shameless raids on the highway fund, have their limits. And what if the state must respond to a definitive court order to increase K-12 funding? Meanwhile, the 2012 income tax cuts that unfairly shifted the tax burden from business owners to paycheck earners continue to underperform as economic stimulus.

Brownback should be frank with Kansans about how he proposes to put the state’s fiscal house in order.

For the editorial board, Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Brownback will cut what from where?."