Column: Legislature Nears Important Deadline
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2009
The following is a column written by Representative Mike Burgess (R-Topeka).
Legislature Nears Important Deadline
By Rep. Mike Burgess
This Friday marks the last day most legislative committees can meet. The Kansas Legislature begins wrapping up the session next week so we can meet April 4th’s “Drop Dead” deadline. That’s when most bills must be approved by both chambers. If they don’t make it out of both chambers, chances are they’re done for the session.
House Approves Rainy Day Fund
I am pleased to report the House voted last week 89-33 to establish the “state stabilization budget fund”, better known as a rainy day fund.
I believe not having a rainy day fund is kind of like walking on a high wire without a net. A rainy day fund lets the state put a little into savings during the good times and lean on it during the difficult times – making us better prepared for a down turn in the economy. Several major pieces of our Kansas economy – aviation, agriculture, for example – are cyclical. I believe a government that is more stable in funding will operate more efficiently.
House Bill 2320 is part of my “Good Government Initiatives”. I worked with both sides of the aisle to write a measure that received support from Republican and Democrat House members. I believe establishing and funding a rainy day fund isn’t a partisan issue – it’s a matter of good government.
Kansas is one of three states that don’t have a rainy day fund. The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Annexation
The Kansas House recently considered several bills that addressed annexation issues.
House Bill 2029 addresses recourse residents have when a city fails to deliver promised services to annexed areas and allows residents in certain counties to put the annexation request to a vote of those living in the area.
The legislation also protects our agricultural land by requiring written approval from landowners of unplatted land of more than 21 acres that a city is targeting for annexation.
House Bill 2084 focuses on government entities annexing small, thin portions of land to gain access to other land – also known as “snake or alley” annexation. The bill was inspired by action taken by the City of Mulvane in its attempt to entice a state-owned gaming casino by annexing land five miles away from city limits. The city’s action came after the majority of its residents voted against allowing a casino in its boundaries.
Both bills now go to the Senate for its consideration
The House also will consider a third annexation bill, House Bill 2032, this week. The bill prohibits the unilateral annexation of land - unless the board of county commissioners adopts a resolution stating the proposed annexation will not have an adverse effect on the county.
The House passed a similar measure last year but it failed to gain any traction in the Senate.
Kansas Reservoirs and Water Supply
The House also adopted HCR 5012 – The Pick-Sloan Act. It calls on the United States Army Corps of Engineers to revisit the Flood Control Act of 1944.
The 60-year act impacts the majority of the reservoirs in Kansas and acts as a guide as to how the state can manage them. The act basically addresses flood and drought issues and moving freight on the river. But now the river basins main purpose is to supple water to cities. Supporters say changes need to be made to the act because how the water is used from the Kansas and Missouri River basins has changed drastically.
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota support the review. Iowa is split. Missouri is the only state to oppose the review. Hayden said the reason Missouri is fighting the review is because it gets the most benefit from how the act is written. The other states including Kansas are required to release water into the Missouri River when the river flow runs low in Missouri. But Missouri doesn’t have to return the favor.
House Committee Considers Zero-Based Budgeting
Last week I testified before the House General Budget Committee in support of House Bill 2273, requiring the state to use a zero-based budgeting process. I believe this bill would give future legislators more consistent information to allow them to make more informed budgetary decisions.
Currently, the Kansas Legislature makes annual spending decisions by adding (or subtracting) new money to the prior year’s budgets. HB 2273 fundamentally changes this approach. Once every five years, it would require each agency to submit a budget that starts from scratch with zero dollars and then adds the funding necessary to conduct specific activities, operations and staff.
Under this system, agencies would be required to provide:
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a description of each activity performed for which an appropriation is made or requested,
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the legal basis for performing the activity, and
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an itemized justification for the amount requested to perform the activity.
The committee is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks.
Budget Update
Legislative researchers reported earlier this month that the size of Kansas’ projected 2010 budget deficit has grown to $682 million. The new figure is higher because state tax collections fell $14 million short of expectations in February.
State officials had anticipated tax revenues of more than $260 million. Instead, Kansas collected less than $247 million.
Meanwhile, the House and Senate budget committees are working on the 2010 budget bills.
Both have approved the governor’s proposal to use federal stimulus money so the state can keep the Base State Aid Per Pupil for Fiscal Year 2010 the same as 2009 - $4400.
Governor’s Budget Amendment permits $157.2 million of federal funds to be used to finance a portion of K-12 education. The GBA for K-12 is important because it represents nearly $3.7 billion of the state’s nearly $6 billion SGF.
Both have also put back about $3 million for driver’s education and motorcycle safety education. The Governor had proposed cutting those funds.
I expect the committees will send their respective bill proposals to the House and Senate chambers for debate in the next week or two.
Upcoming Events
I hope you can join me for a Legislative Forum this Wednesday, March 18th at Aldersgate Village. It starts at 7p.m.
As always it is an honor to serve you and our neighbors in the 51st House District. Please call or email me about your concerns and ideas.
Rep. Mike Burgess
51st House District
785/296-7632
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov
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