Kansas House debating $14B state budget

Kansas House debating $14 billion budget for upcoming fiscal year

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Kansas House has opened debate on a proposed $14 billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

An effort early in Tuesday's debate to delete $1.2 million over two years for public broadcasting and use the money for senior citizen meals was rejected.

The legislation would spend about $6 billion in state general fund revenues. The budget covers spending for public schools and higher education, social services and public safety, including the Highway Patrol, prisons and emergency management.

The House Appropriations Committee budget made about $25 million in cuts from the budget proposed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. It would leave the state with ending balances of more than $565 million in reserve on June 30, 2014, and about $485 million in reserve on June 30, 2015.