Thursday, May 17, 2012

Legislative negotiators working on the Kansas budget say state spending for education and other programs is tied to a pending compromise on tax cuts.

The budget talks resumed Wednesday after the conferees made little progress Tuesday. They're trying to resolve differences between the House and Senate on the $14 billion spending plan for the budget year that starts July 1.

A new tax bill that emerged Wednesday would blunt the effects of a plan legislators approved last week. It would leave the state with healthier ending balances and would not require significant cuts in spending to balance the budget.

The budget negotiators met Wednesday and plan to resume their talks Thursday ahead of a key vote on the new tax plan.