April
29, 2003
A
bi-partisan group of 16 freshman House members held a press conference this
morning to announce their proposal to solving the current budget crisis.
Highlights of their Revenue proposal calls for:
* .05 percent increase sales taxes = $182.6 M in FY '04
* 3.5 % surcharge on all incomes = $83.9 M in FY'04
Highlights on the expenditure side:
* Add $21 M to reduce waiting lists for SRS and KDOA in FY '04
* Add $25 M to reduce waiting lists in FY'05
* Add $29 M to reduce waiting list in FY'06
* Add $28.9 M for $50 base state aid per pupil in FY '04
* FY'04 Ending balance of $168.4 M or 3.6 %
The 'Freshman Proposal" will have a bill number by Thursday. House
Taxation
Committee, Chairman, Rep. John Edmonds has agreed to hold a hearing on the
bill on Thursday at 9:00 am.
While we are still unclear as to how receptive legislative leadership will be
to this newest proposal, we feel this to be a great breakthrough in
acknowledging the need for new revenue to address our state's budget
shortfalls.
Congratulations to the freshman legislators for having the courage to face
reality and call for tax increases. The state's budget has been running
on
empty for the past few years. It is now time to gas up the tank and move
forward.
As soon as we have a Bill #, I will let you know.
Action: Contact your legislators and let them know that
we applaud this move
by freshman legislators to get to the heart of the problem, "We need
sufficient revenue to address the critical human needs in our
state." It is
our hope that this proposal will challenge all legislators to get serious
about the critical needs of our state.
Shannon Jones
785-234-6990
SILCK