TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) — Republican legislative leaders are expressing confidence in the ability of the House and Senate to pass a balanced budget that reflects additional cuts to Kansas tax rates.

Both chambers are preparing to debate their budget bills. The bills outline how they propose to spend some $14 billion, including $6 billion from the state general fund.

Legislators built the budgets on tax plans that would make further reductions in income tax rates, though the House version doesn’t contemplate keeping in place a 2010 increase in the state sales tax rate scheduled to expire on July 1. The Senate keeps the sales tax rate at 6.3 percent, instead allowing it to slip to 5.7 percent.

The Senate has passed its tax plan, while the House is yet to vote.