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Opinion
by Murrel Bland
There probably won’t be any increase in Kansas taxes next year. At least that was the prediction from Kathy Damron, the lobbyist for the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce, when she reported to the chamber’s Legislative Committee Friday morning Dec. 11.
“This will be an election year and all 165 Senate and House seats will be up,” Damron said. Nonetheless, there still will be financial issues the Legislature must face, she said.
“There is a known budget shortfall of nearly $200 million for next year’s budget,” she said. “The Governor (Sam Brownback) has thrown cold water on both tax hikes and spending cuts.”
Damron said a pending Kansas Supreme Court case concerning school finance could change the entire nature of the Legislative session if the decision comes before the Legislature adjourns.
There was some good news with sales tax receipts, Damron said.
“In November, Kansas collected about $3 million more in individual income tax than anticipated—an increase of .3 percent above the most recent estimates,” Damron said. “Sales and use tax receipts were $3.5 million more than estimated.”
Damron said that Gov. Brownback and his advisers and legislators have been criticized for using money that was intended for road construction to pay other state bills. To fill the gap in the Kansas Department of Transportation, the governor is proposing to issue $18 million in bonds.
Damron said the issue that would eliminate the state income tax is most likely to be debated. Gov. Brownback has argued this “March to Zero” in income tax will help the state’s economy grow. His critics have argued this is a bad policy and causing too much reliance on sales tax paid by those who can least afford it.
The chamber’s Legislative Committee reviewed its final draft that will be presented to the chamber’s Board of Directors.
Among those issues considered for approval:
• Supports a property appraisal process that provides the business community with a high level of certainty and consistency.
• Supports a reform of payday lending that ensures a clarity of loan terms to the consumer.
• Supports legislation that streamlines and expedites local government and local neighborhood organizations in dealing with blight and abandoned properties.
• Opposes changing provisions that expand gaming that would hurt the Hollywood Casino.
• Supports a healthcare plan that provides coverage for low-income Kansans, many of whom are part of the workforce.
• Supports a new funding formula that provides a high-quality education for every child.
• Supports an origin-based sales tax for intrastate purchases.
The Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation will hold a public hearing concerning the 2016 session at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kan.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.