Thursday, March 14, 2013

A Kansas Senate committee has endorsed a state budget of more than $14 billion after trimming Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's spending proposals for higher education.

The Ways and Means Committee's action Thursday sends the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning in July to the full chamber. The Senate is expected to debate it next week.

Brownback proposed increasing total spending of about 1.3 percent for the next fiscal year, bringing it to $14.6 billion. He recommended keeping spending on higher education flat.

Committee members trimmed at least $40 million from the governor's recommendations. The reductions included almost $16 million from the higher education system.

The committee wanted to rein in spending to leave room for income tax cuts.