Budget cuts aren’t as simple as they seem

Written by Rep. Bob Brookens Tuesday, 15 February 2011 15:40

Since I wrote my last column, we have voted on a couple of matters that warrant comment.

First is the rescission bill, also referred to this year as the freeze bill, since it is designed to freeze spending.

As you are aware, we’re trying to fill a huge financial hole just to finish this fiscal year. For the balance of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, funds for education are to be cut based on $75 per pupil base state aid.

Most school districts in our area braced for this possibility by taking advantage of a law passed last year by the legislature. The new provision allowed schools this one time to transfer funds from certain other areas to their contingency reserve fund, just in case the state had a budget hole in fiscal year...

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‘Suitable’ education a critical issue for 70th

Written by Rep. Bob Brookens Tuesday, 08 February 2011 15:41

Gov. Brown­back has requested the Kansas Legis­la­ture work toward defining the term “suitable education” as one of his initiatives to streamline and modernize state government.

The need for a widely accepted and defendable definition stems from language in the Kansas Constitution: “The Legislature shall make suitable provision for finance of the educational interests of the state.”

That single sentence has led to much confusion, discussion, and even lawsuits, precipitated in part by the fact that education comprises a large part of all state expenditures. Gov. Brown­back rightly recognizes it would be a huge help if we could figure out a workable definition of “suitable.”

On the one hand, the constitution talks about...

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Reaching 150 years is something to celebrate

Written by Rep. Bob Brookens Wednesday, 02 February 2011 01:08

This past weekend kicked off the sesquicentennial year for Kansas. Saturday was Kansas Day. I hope you become active in some event this year focusing on, emphasizing and promoting Kansas’ past, present or future. We all ought to celebrate big!

In his State of the State address, Gov. Brownback talked about establishing a Rural Opportunity Zone for counties with a population loss of more than 10 percent. There are 40 counties whose loss exceeds 10 percent, and Marion County is one of them.

According to the census figures, Chase County lost 7.7 percent of its population, Butler County gained 7.7 percent and Marion County lost 10.3 percent. Whether those percentages might be modified if adjustments are made to the official census, I...

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State cuts to the arts raises familiar themes

Written by Rep. Bob Brookens Tuesday, 25 January 2011 16:22

I have heard from many of you with questions and comments about the Kansas Arts Commission, what it means to Kansas and, specifically, to our District. I’ve been researching the issues, and I also spoke directly to Gov. Brownback last Wednesday. My research isn’t done, but here’s what I know about the matter right now.

Gov. Brownback stated he intends to continue funding the arts. He states the cut is designed not to impact arts funding, but to eliminate funding a paid staff—totally—and have the arts funding run through a charitable corporation (an arts council) designed to enhance the arts, what we in the tax world call a Section 501(c)(3) organization.

He wants to take advantage of the idea that people who support the arts...

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