A Hit to Education

Wherever you live, I hope that your local government shows more foresight and intelligence than mine. The Kansas legislature has just approved a budget that virtually assures further cuts to public education in the coming years. At a time when our legislators need to be finding ways to replace funds that they cut during recent recession-plagued years, they have instead guaranteed that the quality of education in Kansas will suffer.

There is some window dressing on this year's bill. A small increase in education funding is indicated for one year and it appears that the necessary cuts in state services will not hit until next year. But, if nothing changes between now and then, our state will need to balance the budget, which the current funding will not cover. So, services will be cut and, in Kansas where 2/3 of state funding goes to education, that means taking public money from students.

This has all been done in the name of tax cuts. I'm all for low taxes; they do indeed help create jobs. But, there are necessary services that a state needs to provide such as law enforcement, roads and education. To neglect any of these services - especially the last - is the equivalent of eating your seeds. It fills your stomach now but guarantees hunger in the future.

Our governor, Sam Brownback, has indicated that he will sign the bill.