TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Senate is preparing to debate a proposed $14.2 billion state budget that’s slightly more generous than one proposed by Gov. Sam Brownback.
The budget bill on the Senate’s calendar for Wednesday still cuts overall spending by almost 4 percent, or $572 million, during the fiscal year that begins July 1.
But it includes funds for social service programs that Brownback didn’t include in his spending recommendations. It includes an additional $16 million for children’s programs and nearly $9 million to boost the pay of state workers whose salaries are below the pay for people with similar jobs in the private sector.
The spending blueprint would leave about $460 million in cash reserves at the end of June 2013.
The House approved a tighter proposed budget last week.
