By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Lawmakers will return to Topeka from their spring recess Wednesday, April 29. The Kansas legislature by law must wrap up its regular session within 90 calendar days.

Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, said she “feels a little confident we’ll be done in 90 days,” but with the state budget deficit and school funding concerns remaining, “we may not be done by May 12.”

Kansas would take an additional $25 million hit in its next state budget to provide the aid it has promised to public schools.

The GOP-controlled Legislature approved a measure in March which Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed to junk the state’s per-pupil school funding formula and replace it with predictable block grants for the next two years.

The law has been challenged in court.

Rep. Boldra said she “will have a seat at the table” as school funding discussions continue.

“Just tweak it every year—since 1992–things have been tweaked so that many times we don’t even understand what all is in there.

“So I think it’s time that we did take a look at the school finance formula again. I’m not sure we should just dump everything and start with block grants, but that’s what they—we– have decided to do,” Boldra said.

State officials said Tuesday that a property tax imposed by the state to raise money for schools is expected to generate $17.5 million less than previously anticipated during the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Officials also predict that aid to school districts for construction projects will cost $7.5 million more than previously estimated.

Although the legislature may schedule an adjournment and allow for a “wrap-up” session, the regular session generally ends in late April or early May.