Budget Deficit Might Loom Again

Kansas officials are preparing to issue a new fiscal forecast and it could leave the state with a projected deficit in its current budget again.

University officials, legislative researchers and officials in Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration were meeting Friday to draft revised projections for tax collections through June 2017.

The new forecast was coming the same day the Kansas Supreme Court was hearing arguments about whether a school funding law enacted earlier this year complies with the state constitution and whether the state immediately owes school districts another $54 million.

Since the current fiscal year began in July, tax collections have been short of expectations by about $78 million, or 4.1 percent.

The state boosted sales and cigarette taxes in July to close an earlier budget shortfall.