Governor Optimistic at Hitting New Revenue Goal

Gov. Sam Brownback says Kansas has “a good shot” at making its new revenue projections and avoiding a deficit in its current budget.

Brownback told reporters Monday that he’s hoping a new fiscal forecast will hold and, “We’ll be in fine shape.”

University economists, legislative researchers and officials in Brownback’s administration issued the new forecast Friday. It slashed $354 million from projections for state revenues from now through June 2017.

Brownback’s budget director immediately announced $124 million in adjustments to the current budget to prevent a deficit.

Legislative researchers now project cash reserves of less than $6 million at the end of June 2016.

When a reporter noted that it’s not much of a cushion, Brownback said, “I think we’ve got a good shot of being able to make that.”