income tax

Possible Progress Made In Statehouse Tax Negotiations

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:41:48 +0000

After making little progress for weeks, public negotiations on taxes have continued in the Kansas Statehouse.

Legislative leaders and the governor had been meeting behind closed doors, but this week it appeared those talks had stalled.

House and Senate negotiators held a public meeting Wednesday and House members offered a new compromise.

The House and Senate have been divided on the issue of sales taxes.

Kansas Lawmakers May Miss Their Deadline To Finish Session

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:21:26 +0000

Kansas lawmakers just returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday, but already it looks like a disagreement on taxes could push the session past lawmakers' 80-day deadline.

House and Senate Republicans disagree on whether to extend a temporary sales tax increase. It's set to expire on July 1, and House leaders want to let it end as planned. Republican leaders in both chambers want to lower income tax rates, and Senators say keeping the sales tax elevated allows the state to lower income tax rates more quickly.

Kansas House Advances Cuts In Sales, Income Taxes

Associated Press — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:29:47 +0000

The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill cutting sales and income taxes after rejecting a diversion of highway funds to stabilize the budget.

The bill advanced Wednesday on an 82-37 vote, suggesting it has enough support to pass on final action, which is expected Thursday.

The legislation follows up on personal income tax cuts enacted last year by promising income tax rate reductions each year that overall state revenues grow more than 2 percent.

Also, the bill allows the state sales tax to decline as scheduled in July.

Senate Passes Modified Version Of Brownback Tax Plan

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:48:14 +0000

The Kansas Senate has passed a bill that would cut income tax rates in Kansas and keep the sales tax at its current rate.

House Tax Plan Differs From Brownback's Proposal

Stephen Koranda — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:09:29 +0000

The Kansas House will soon be considering a tax plan that's very different from one proposed by Governor Sam Brownback.

House Leaders Say Support For Gov. Brownback's Tax Plan Is Low

Kate Clause — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:54:24 +0000

On Friday, Republican leaders in the Kansas House there's little support in their chamber for Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to raise additional sales tax revenue.

House Speaker Ray Merrick of Stilwell and Majority Leader Jene Vickrey of Louisberg said the measure proposed by Gov. Brownback does not seem viable.

Realtors Rally To Save Income Tax Breaks For Kansas Homeowners

Kate Clause — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:23:39 +0000

More than 200 real estate agents rallied in Topeka Wednesday morning to ask lawmakers to preserve two different income tax breaks for homeowners.

The Kansas Association of Realtors gathered at the Statehouse before sending members to meet with state legislators.

KS Senate Committee Delays Work On Gov's Tax Plan

Stephen Koranda — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:00:58 +0000

A Senate Committee has delayed work on Gov. Sam Brownback's tax proposal. A printing mix-up meant the scheduled debate was left off the official Senate calendar for Tuesday, and the committee's chairman says he didn't want to work on the tax plan without letting the public know about it.

The committee was scheduled to debate the bill and offer amendments, also called "working" the bill.

Senate Tax Committee chairman Les Donovan says they’ll benefit from the extra time to prepare.

Top Morning News 2.06.13 (Updated)

Briana O’Higgins and Kate Clause — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:49:08 +0000

Mark McCormick returns to KAAM; Reno County Residents Consider Jail Renovation Tax; Wichita City Council approves bike plan; Kansas Senate Committee has to delay work on tax plan because of a printing problem; Sen. Michael O'Donnell introduces legislation to have Kansas college basketball teams play.

Updated 2/6/13 9:27 am

Mark McCormick Returns To Direct Kansas African American Museum

The former director of the Kansas African American Museum in Wichita has returned to the job.

Some Lawmakers May Pursue Cuts During Budget Talks

Stephen Koranda — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:39:29 +0000

Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed more income tax cuts in Kansas over the coming years. And to help pay for that, he wants to make permanent part of a temporary sales tax increase that is set to expire later this year.

He's also suggested eliminating some tax deductions, like the home mortgage deduction. Though, some lawmakers may try to alter that plan.

There is now a conservative majority in both the House and Senate, and some lawmakers may try to find additional cuts to state spending instead of using the sales tax and tax deductions to help pay for an income tax cut.