Kansas legislators convene next week facing a massive budget deficit and a court mandate to sharply increase funding for public schools.

A projected budget shortfall of more than $710 million for the current budget and the fiscal year that begins in July arose after aggressive personal income tax cuts engineered by Gov. Sam Brownback.

Lawmakers are challenged with finding enough spending cuts to erase the deficit against a backdrop of tax cuts that some say shouldn’t be changed.

Other legislators have suggested delaying tax cuts scheduled for ensuing years until revenues increase enough to offset spending.

Brownback’s chief of staff told The Wichita Eagle that proposals to raise tax revenue will be part of the governor’s plan to plug the budget hole and that education spending won’t remain untouched.