TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director has apologized publicly for supplying him with an incorrect figure that led the Republican governor to make erroneous claims about his Democratic predecessor.
Budget Director Steve Anderson said in a statement Monday the mistake occurred in entering data on an internal administration spreadsheet tracking total state spending.
The error showed total state spending peaking at $16 billion during the state’s 2010 fiscal year, under Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson. The actual spending for fiscal 2010 was about $14 billion.
In recent presentations to groups, Brownback has contrasted the purported $16 billion figure with lower total spending since he took office in January 2011. Spending was $14.4 billion for the fiscal 2012, which ended in June.
Anderson said the spreadsheet has been corrected.
