Kansas House members are preparing to debate a plan for increasing the state’s sales tax to help close a projected budget shortfall.

The bill on Friday’s agenda would raise the sales tax to 6.85 percent from its current 6.15 percent. However, the tax on food would drop to 5.9 percent.

The measure also eliminates most personal income tax deductions. Taxpayers still could deduct all of their charitable contributions and half of the property taxes paid on their homes and the interest paid on their home mortgages.

Legislators must close a projected budget shortfall of $406 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The state’s budget problems arose after lawmakers slashed personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy.