Lawmakers Discussing Various Tax Increases

Kansas legislators are continuing to discuss proposals to raise taxes to fill a projected budget shortfall as the end of their annual session nears.

The House Taxation Committee was expected to review proposals Wednesday for raising revenues to close a projected $406 million deficit in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Republicans on the committee planned to discuss a proposal to raise the state’s sales tax to 6.85 percent from 6.15 percent. The plan would also reduce the state’s lowest personal income tax rate to 2.55 percent from 2.7 percent.

The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee has a proposal before it to raise the sales tax to 6.5 percent.

Both committees are considering proposals to drop the sales tax on food.