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Task Force Recommends Changes To Kansas Revenue Projections

Stephen Koranda
/
Kansas Public Radio/File photo
Sam Williams, who headed up the task force.

A task force appointed by Gov. Sam Brownback has suggested a series of changes to how Kansas officials estimate future tax collections. Those estimates are used when lawmakers craft the budget.

Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan says state officials will be considering additional information to hopefully make the revenue projections more accurate.

“A better prediction taking into account the economy and tax policy changes. The recommendations from the task force, we feel, really help improve that process and bringing that together,” Jordan says.

One idea would eliminate the monthly report that compares predicted revenues to the actual tax collections. Democratic Sen. Laura Kelly thinks the proposal is politically motivated because the state has consistently missed the mark on revenue estimates.

“Clearly, this is an effort to get that out of the news because it has been bad and will probably continue to be bad,” Kelly says.

The latest revenue report released on Monday showed Kansas missed tax collection projections by $40 million last month. 

The administration is already pursuing some of the changes but will take time to consider whether to change the monthly revenue reports.

Stephen Koranda is the managing editor of the Kansas News Service, based at KCUR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public media as a reporter and editor.