TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Republican legislators are questioning whether Kansas should cover unanticipated increases in costs associated with aid to the state’s public schools as they wrestle with a projected budget shortfall.

House Appropriations Committee member and Overland Park Republican Jerry Lunn said Wednesday that the idea ought to be on the table. Lawmakers are working on measures to close a projected $279 million shortfall in the current state budget.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget staff says the costs of fulfilling promises on aid to public schools are almost $64 million higher than anticipated than when legislators set the current budget last year.

He is proposing to cover the extra costs and then reduce school aid from that peak level for the next fiscal year beginning in July.