Tax & Spending

Record State Budgets From Off-Target Economic Predictions 0
- Tax & Spending
- June 13, 2019
When it comes to making predictions, they say that the only good thing about economic forecasters is that they make the TV weathermen look good. Kansas’s economic and tax revenue forecasters, known as the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group or CRE are no different, and they have a history of missing their estimates. As a result,
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More State Funding Won’t Stop Tuition Hikes 0
- Tax & Spending
- May 28, 2019
Kansas students are suffering financially from the accelerating cost of college. If policymakers truly seek to provide tuition relief, they should realize state aid has little to zero effect on tuition hikes. The idea that education needs more state funding strongly influences Kansas policy. To that degree, the legislature approved an extra $33 million in
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Kansas Taxpayers Left With $1.4 Billion Deficit Despite Governor’s Veto 0
- Tax & Spending
- May 17, 2019
Those saying the current trajectory of state spending won’t lead to a deficit or tax increase aren’t being honest. A new profile prepared by the Kansas Legislative Research Department (KLRD) shows the state budget creates a $1.4 billion deficit over the next four years. This happens regardless of Governor Kelly’s veto of the tax windfall bill. Another
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Kansas Has Nation’s Highest Rural Property Tax: 2019 Green Book 0
- Tax & Spending
- May 10, 2019
Some of Kansas’s low economic performance may be tied to the fact that property taxes are growing too fast. In fact, 65 KS counties saw triple-digit property tax growth despite their populations shrinking. The Lincoln Land Institute found that Iola, KS has the highest rural property tax rate in the nation. By contrast, there is
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After Record Tax Increases, Kansans’ Happiness Suffers 0
- Tax & Spending
- May 2, 2019
The latest snapshot of the Kansas economy isn’t a good one for Kansans. Its private sector is ranked as the 31st fastest growth in the nation for 2018. For the last quarter in 2018, Kansas’s private sector was the 42nd fastest. As a result, economic opportunities elsewhere continue to flourish at the expense of Kansas
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Coincidence or Preparation? Kansans Cut Shopping Equal to Vetoed Tax Windfall 0
- Tax & Spending
- April 15, 2019
Governor Kelly vetoed the tax windfall bill, raising Kansans’ income taxes to the tune of $50 million. Near the same time, the latest state tax report shows Kansans decreasing shopping by $40 million. Is this just a coincidence, or are Kansans preparing to pay for higher taxes again? It’s possible Kansas’s fiscal troubles and sluggish growth
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