Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson says the threat of a lawsuit over education funding won't influence his decisions on how to balance the state budget.

Parkinson said Tuesday he'll announce next week the $260 million in spending cuts and other adjustments needed to prevent a deficit when the current fiscal year ends June 30.

State aid to public schools has already been reduced by $130 million since the budget year began July 1. More cuts are seen as likely because school funding consumes more than half the state's general tax revenues.

Kansas Supreme Court rulings in 2005 and 2006 forced legislators to promise annual increases in state aid. Some educators are talking about suing the state again.