A top leader in the Kansas Senate says lawmakers may ask school districts to dip into their reserve funds to help solve a looming budget deficit.
Republican Majority Leader Jim Denning, from Overland Park, says he knows taxes will have to be raised to structurally balance the state budget.
The problem, he says, is the 2018 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
He calls that a "bridge year," and says he may want school districts to use 2 percent of their reserve funds to help balance the budget.
“I would like the schools to give us a hand. It would bring a lot of structure and closure to the process," he says. "I know it’s a big ask.”
Denning says if schools can help next year, fiscal 2019 will be better.
Mark Tallman from the Kansas Association of School Boards says he doesn’t think educators will be happy with that plan, but might be willing to go along if it means more money in future years.
Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.