The Kansas CW | State Considering Furloughs to Help Balance Budget
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by Kim Hynes (TOPEKA, Kan.)
Furloughs are on the list of ways to balance the state's budget. Later this month, the governor is expected to announce how to fill a $260 million deficit. The cuts will be the fourth round this year because revenues continue to be less than expected. "I'm very very concerned about what's happening," said Derby resident Dion Avello. He's concerned about the impact another $260 million in cuts will have on Kansas. "We all holler about where's a cop when we need one. Then with winter coming on we need the highway department out clearing the roads, we need teachers,"said Wichita resident Walter Anderson. But the state can no longer afford everything it needs, so significant cuts will be made. Every department is being considered. "Closing the gap will require some very painful reductions," said Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen. Those reductions include the possibility of furloughs for the state's almost 37,000 employees. Goossen says one day of furlough would save Kansas $3 million. But it would take almost 87 furlough days to fix the budget. "It's certainly not a gap that can be solved only by furloughs," Goossen said. Anderson says he doesn't know how to solve the problem and is glad he's not in the governor's position. "I think they should cut, but here again where. I don't have any answers." The governor is expected to announce the cuts by the end of this month. School districts across Kansas are also bracing for the news. The Hutchinson superintendent says he expects to have to cut $1 million from this year's budget. The state's fiscal year runs July through June, so whatever cuts are made will be immediate.
