February 26--Governor Sebelius' plan to raise 304 million
dollars for public schools through higher taxes was rejected today
by the Senate. And that brings uncertainty to the state debate over
education funding.
The vote was this morning was 25-to-14 against the education
funding bill.
Sebelius' package would have phased in a series of increases in
taxes on property, sales and personal income over three years --
and earmarked the revenue for specific uses in public schools.
Senators had expected the Democratic governor's plan to fail,
because of opposition to a tax hike. And some Republican
legislators want to postpone major changes in education funding
until the Kansas Supreme Court rules in a lawsuit against the
state. It was filed by the Salina and Dodge City school districts.
