Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Budget recommendations from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback would leave total state spending flat after two years.

Brownback outlined proposals Wednesday for spending for the two years beginning in July. He wants to increase total spending slightly during the fiscal year that begins July 1 and reduce it the following fiscal year.

He's proposing that the state spend nearly $14.6 billion during the fiscal year that begins in July. That's a total increase of $186 million, or 1.3 percent, over the current budget of about $14.4 billion.

But for the fiscal year that begins in July 2014, Brownback is proposing dropping total spending back down to $14.4 billion.

Under his budget proposals, spending on highway projects would fluctuate in those years, which is common.