TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judicial panel has slammed the state’s increasing reliance on the use of local money to supplement state funding of public schools.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the three judges Shawnee County District Court panel issued its ruling last week in a school funding lawsuit. Beyond finding that the state needs to boost funding for students, the judges also didn’t hesitate to make known their views on the methods the state uses to fund schools.

At issue is something called the local option budget, which allows districts to raise more money locally than the state provides.

School officials say the LOB initially was envisioned as a way to cover extras. But because general funds didn’t keep pace with inflation, schools started tapping their LOBs to cover basic costs.