New Budget Slashes University and Medicaid Funding

Gov. Sam Brownback signed a budget bill Wednesday that makes significant cuts to the highway fund, Medicaid and higher education and trims most state agency budgets by 4 percent.

Brownback announced cuts to address the more than $290 million shortfall faced this year and in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The plan includes cutting $185 million from the highway fund and over $97 million from most state agencies. State universities and most Medicaid provider rates will be reduced by 4 percent.

The cuts leave an ending balance of $21.5 million for this year and $87.5 million in the 2017 fiscal year.

Kansas has struggled to balance its budget since GOP lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging in an effort to stimulate the economy.