News: "Kan gov to sign sales tax increase this month" (Wichita: schools)

[GraniteStater]

Kan. gov. to sign sales tax increase this month - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100511/ap_on_bi_ge/ks_xgr_kansas_budget - broken link)

[kcmo]

Kansas is sort of a high tax state for a rural state (what do you get for high taxes there besides schools?), but I wonder if it's better to go ahead and raise taxes than to cut any more services like schools etc. Seems to me like everybody paying a bit more in sales tax is better than slashing school funding and road funding further than its already been cut.

[athfo]

I agree with kcmo, I think this isn't a bad idea at all.

Here's another article: Kan. Sales Tax Hike Cuts Against State's Image - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/12/ap/business/main6477604.shtml - broken link)

[cp1969]

This horrendous $350 million dollar deficit that the new increased sales tax is going to make up amounts to 2.5 percent of the $13.6 billion dollar budget.

The state can't trim 2.5 percent of fat from the budget. Amazing.

[PeteBarnum]

for a state that seems to pride itself on being red, they raise taxes more then a democrat blue state and give less, have you driven on the so called good roads of kansas? They look like crap to me.

[vb_guy]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Kansas is sort of a high tax state for a rural state (what do you get for high taxes there besides schools?), but I wonder if it's better to go ahead and raise taxes than to cut any more services like schools etc. Seems to me like everybody paying a bit more in sales tax is better than slashing school funding and road funding further than its already been cut.

The Wichita Eagle called this the "best of very bad options," which I agree with. Much like the arena tax here, we have it for three years or so, and it goes away. I work with multi-state sales tax, and most states that I've dealt with have rates at least one point higher than Kansas. This will actually put them on par with most states.

[kansas sky]

Originally Posted by cp1969

This horrendous $350 million dollar deficit that the new increased sales tax is going to make up amounts to 2.5 percent of the $13.6 billion dollar budget.

The state can't trim 2.5 percent of fat from the budget. Amazing.

As someone who works at one of the state universities...trust me they've trimmed about as far as they can.

[GraniteStater]

Kansas is a fairly high tax state outside of JOCO with respect to median income. To raise a sales tax is regressive. A graduated income tax on higher earners would be slightly more progressive.

[cp1969]

Originally Posted by kansas sky

As someone who works at one of the state universities...trust me they've trimmed about as far as they can.

You're going to have a hard time convincing me of that. I will guarantee you that I can find 2.5% savings in the education budget, especially when they do things like hire the new KU chancellor at something like 50% more than the previous one made.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by cp1969

You're going to have a hard time convincing me of that. I will guarantee you that I can find 2.5% savings in the education budget, especially when they do things like hire the new KU chancellor at something like 50% more than the previous one made.

No doubt you could find a 2.5% savings, perhaps even 5%, but be sure to bring some 33 decibel earplugs along to your budget meetings. There'll be lots of screaming:

No, that's not fat you're trying to cut, that's muscle and bone!

No, that's not muscle and bone! That's fat, pure and simple!

Will someone please bring me a dictionary, and we'll clear this up right this minute!