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We arrived in Topeka on April 28 for the wrap up session. The main piece of legislation to be addressed was the budget. Today, May 6, we are still trying to put a budget together. I was in hopes this would be my last letter of the session. However, I will send at least one more article informing you of the legislature’s budget solutions.
Since 52% of the state’s general fund budget goes to fund education, there have been many articles recently reporting that Kansas schools have plenty of money stashed away. Nothing could be further from the truth. What these articles did not mention is why this money has been saved.
School districts have cash balances on July 1 of each year for the same reason families have cash in the bank at the beginning of each month: to pay bills that come due before the next paycheck, to cover expenses if expected income is late, and for emergencies. On average, school districts try to maintain cash balances to cover at least one month’s expenses. Even though every single scheduled state aid payment so far this year has been late, sometimes by many weeks, school districts have still been able to pay their employees and bills on time because they take the responsible step of maintaining a cash balance.
The majority of these funds are limited to maintenance and repair of school buildings, and construction of new schools in districts where patrons voted to pass a bond issue. The cash balances can only be spent for the specific purpose as required by the Kansas Constitution. When voters speak and say they want money set aside to repair or build new schools we must respect that decision. The two major funds are Capital Outlay, whose revenue comes primarily from a local mill levy and can only be spent for that purpose according to the Kansas Constitution; and Bond and Interest, whose funds come from local property tax that must be used for the repayment of bonds. Other funds include Food Service, Special Education, Special Reserve, Textbook and Student Material Revolving Fund, Special Education Cooperative Fund, and a Contingency Reserve Fund.
Articles written about Kansas education funds cite figures from the Kansas Policy Institute, formerly known as Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. Although this group has experience in research for over ten years, it is using misleading figures. Kansas laws require that its schools use and keep their funds in certain ways. Additionally, if money is bonded to the school, by the voters, for a certain purpose, it should be kept and used only for this specific purpose. This group is irresponsibly stating these figures to mislead the public.
We arrived in Topeka on April 28 for the wrap up session. The main piece of legislation to be addressed was the budget. Today, May 6, we are still trying to put a budget together. I was in hopes this would be my last letter of the session. However, I will send at least one more article informing you of the legislature’s budget solutions.
Since 52% of the state’s general fund budget goes to fund education, there have been many articles recently reporting that Kansas schools have plenty of money stashed away. Nothing could be further from the truth. What these articles did not mention is why this money has been saved.
School districts have cash balances on July 1 of each year for the same reason families have cash in the bank at the beginning of each month: to pay bills that come due before the next paycheck, to cover expenses if expected income is late, and for emergencies. On average, school districts try to maintain cash balances to cover at least one month’s expenses. Even though every single scheduled state aid payment so far this year has been late, sometimes by many weeks, school districts have still been able to pay their employees and bills on time because they take the responsible step of maintaining a cash balance.
The majority of these funds are limited to maintenance and repair of school buildings, and construction of new schools in districts where patrons voted to pass a bond issue. The cash balances can only be spent for the specific purpose as required by the Kansas Constitution. When voters speak and say they want money set aside to repair or build new schools we must respect that decision. The two major funds are Capital Outlay, whose revenue comes primarily from a local mill levy and can only be spent for that purpose according to the Kansas Constitution; and Bond and Interest, whose funds come from local property tax that must be used for the repayment of bonds. Other funds include Food Service, Special Education, Special Reserve, Textbook and Student Material Revolving Fund, Special Education Cooperative Fund, and a Contingency Reserve Fund.
Articles written about Kansas education funds cite figures from the Kansas Policy Institute, formerly known as Flint Hills Center for Public Policy. Although this group has experience in research for over ten years, it is using misleading figures. Kansas laws require that its schools use and keep their funds in certain ways. Additionally, if money is bonded to the school, by the voters, for a certain purpose, it should be kept and used only for this specific purpose. This group is irresponsibly stating these figures to mislead the public.
I urge you to research the issue for yourself. When you hear a story about education funding in Kansas, ask yourself, “Would schools really lay off teachers and cancel important programs if they had millions of extra dollars to spend?” The answer is no. These funds belong to our students of public education, and should not be taken by the state for other purposes.
Even with all the difficulties we are facing, it is still an honor and privilege to serve as your state representative. I am hopeful we will wrap up the 2010 legislative session by this weekend. I will no longer be in Topeka. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My home address is 1740 N. Spruce, Kingman, KS 67068. You can reach me at 620-532-2126 or my e-mail is pmaloney@cox.net.
