School-Finance Debate in Kan. Prompts Talk of Taxes

By Peter West

A Kansas House panel last week began work on a package of state tax increases designed to offset cuts in local school revenues that would result from a school-finance measure espoused by Democratic lawmakers.

Seeking to avoid a potential court order to reduce spending disparities between rich and poor school districts, House Democrats late last month released a reform plan that would set statewide property-tax and basic per-pupil spending rates.

The plan would lead to an estimated $330-million reduction in local school funding. To enable the state to fill the gap with increased education aid, members of the House Taxation Committee were expected to consider adjustments to the state sales...