TOPEKA — Kansas officials have issued a new fiscal forecast that is a little more optimistic about how much tax revenue the state should expect to collect over the next two years.
The slightly better projections released Thursday would give the state more budget room to expand Medicaid or provide modest income tax relief.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly urged the Republican-controlled Legislature to be cautious. She wants to expand Medicaid, while income tax relief is a priority for top Republican lawmakers.
The forecasting group increased its projections for tax collections during the current budget year by $45 million to almost $7.3 billion.
The group boosted its projection for the 2020 budget year that begins in July by $64 million to nearly $7.5 billion.
The forecasters issued their previous forecast in November.
