State Agencies, Universities Asked to Weigh Cuts

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget chief is asking state agencies and university’s to study the prospect of a 5 percent funding cut.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley says that budget director Shawn Sullivan requested the information from state agencies. But Hawley stresses no decision has been made about whether cuts will be needed, saying it’s common to ask agencies to think about reduced budgets.

A revenue-estimating group that includes Sullivan and the state’s economics next meet in November to determine the state’s revenue outlook.

The group meets twice a year and has lowered revenue estimates each of the past four times it has met. If that happens again, budget cuts could be necessary since the state is already operating at razor thin budget margins.

Associated Press information from: The Wichita Eagle