March 26, 2013
Kansas Legislature begins negotiations on state budget
The Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate both passed their appropriations bills last week at the State Capitol. This week a Conference Committee made up of three members from the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Ways Committee will begin negotiations to reconcile the differences in the two bills passed by the House and the Senate.
The House bill makes the following reductions to higher education:
- Reduce longevity payment funding $1 million
- Wage and salary cap $18.1 million (cap removed for state universities, reduction remains)
- 4 percent State General Fund reduction $29.2 million
The Senate bill makes the following reductions to higher education:
- 2 percent State General Fund reduction $15.2 million
The conference committee should wrap up the negotiations by the first week of April and return the bill to both the House and Senate for final approval.