Gov. Laura Kelly revealed her proposed blueprint Thursday for $7.8 billion in government spending on state services next year, including social service investments, aid for higher education and a pay raise for state employees.
The Democratic governor again asked lawmakers to lower state contributions to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System by extending payments for 10 years and adding $4.4 billion in interest payments, a proposal met with swift condemnation by her Republican adversaries.
Republicans also scoffed at Kelly’s ideas for providing $53.2 million in credits to low-income families for sales tax assessed on food and placing $54 million in a defunct program that lessens the burden of local property taxes.
(Read more: Community – Cherokee County News Advocate)