HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A new survey shows many school districts are offsetting state cuts by slashing jobs and increasing taxes.
The Hutchinson News surveyed a quarter of the state’s 286 school superintendents. The paper reported that many superintendents felt the cuts in state aid shifted a greater share of the cost of schools from the state to local property taxes.
House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, criticized schools for not spending down their reserve funds further as this year’s legislation allowed. But the district said there are good reasons to maintain healthy reserve funds.
They noted that they’ve been hit with midyear spending cuts and received delayed payments. Officials say that without adequate reserves, they wouldn’t have the money to weather those financial hits.
