UNITED METHODISTS AND OTHERS:

1.  After four months into the current fiscal year, the revenue picture for the State of KS is not improving.  The State is off the estimate by approximately $110.million.  Last week, the Governor announced that he would be implementing approximately $100.million in allotments.  With the prospect of allotments of $100.million that translates to approximately a 5% further cut in state budgets.  That will be on top of the nearly $780.million already cut out of state agency budgets.  The persons responsible for predicting revenue estimates for the state meet this week to project expectations for the balance of this fiscal year and then into next year and the revenue picture doesn't look good. The overall picture remains bleak for Kansans needing state services. 
 
    2.  Even though there is discussion that we are out of the recession, that may be true for Wall Street but it is not true for the 15 million plus persons who remain unemployed and thousands of those persons reside in Kansas.   We are quite likely two years away from significant recovery if it is measured against the concept of lessening the number of persons unemployed.
 
    3.  The general political discussion related to state budget shortfalls focuses on continued budget cuts and not increased revenues to bring back funding to the level it was 18 months ago.  More cuts will continue to have an adverse effect on venerable populations throughout the state.  Cuts in place have had a serious effect on services provided to Kansans.
 
    4.  Per pupil student aid has been cut by approximately $200.   Most rehabilitative type programs have been shut down in the corrections system, which means an increase in the number of persons returning to prison.  Home and Community-Based Services for the Elderly continues without a waiting list but that may change before the end of the state's fiscal year, June 30, 2010.
 
    5.  The waiting list for persons who are developmentally disabled and need Home and Community-Based Services numbers 1863.  The waiting list for persons with physical disabilities is 1382.  Without adequate funding, these waiting lists will continue to get bigger.
 
    6.  The state's budget needs help.  More money is needed to provide needed services to Kansans.  Kansas is not a high tax state.  In fiscal year 2007, Kansas was ranked 26th in terms of tax burden, with 1 being the highest individual tax burden.  From fiscal year 1995 to fiscal year 2011, the State of Kansas cumulative net reduction of taxes equaled $9.7billion while the net increase in taxes was $2.5billion.

Bob Harder