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You are here: Home → News & Media → News Releases → House Committee Considers Zero-Based Budgeting

House Committee Considers Zero-Based Budgeting

IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     
March 11, 2009

For more information, contact:
Rep. Jeff King
296-7699
Jeff.King@house.ks.gov

Rep. Mike Burgess
785/296-7653
Mike.Burgess@house.ks.gov 
 
 
HOUSE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS ZERO-BASED BUDGETING
Reps. King and Burgess Testify in Support of Bill
 
Topeka - The House General Budget Committee held a hearing Wednesday on House Bill 2273, requiring the state to use a zero-based budgeting process.  Rep. Jeff King (R-Independence) requested the bill’s introduction. 
In his testimony before the Committee, King stressed the need to spend state money based on current needs, not historic funding decisions.

"Too often, the Legislature spends money because that's how the State did it last year, not because it's the best use of money for citizens of Kansas," said Rep. King. “I introduced HB 2273 to correct this problem and help the Kansas Legislature spend money in the most efficient and productive way possible."


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 must provide:

  • a description of each activity performed for which an appropriation is made or requested,
  • the legal basis for performing the activity, and
  • an itemized justification for the amount requested to perform the activity.

Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Topeka) testified the Kansas Legislature must be involved in the zero-based budget process in order for it to be successful.

“This is an important piece of legislation that will give future legislators more consistent information to allow them to make more informed budgetary decisions,” Rep. Mike Burgess (R-Topeka) said.  “One byproduct of this process will likely be the realization of the cost of legislative mandates on the agencies.  Many of these mandates have been added over time for good reason, but we often don’t realize the cumulative cost of those mandates and could use this zero-based budgeting process to review the cost of those mandates and if they are still needed.”

The committee is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks.


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Rep. Jeff King represents the 12th House District which includes the cities of Independence, Howard, and Sedan in southeast Kansas, covering Elk and parts of Chautauqua and Montgomery counties. He is Vice-Chairman of the House Taxation Committee and serves on the House Committees for Transportation and Judiciary.

 
Rep. Mike Burgess serves 51st House District which includes north and west Shawnee County and southern Wabaunsee County, including Alma, Eskridge, Harveyville, Rossville, Silver Lake, Willard and a little bit of Topeka.  He is Vice-Chairman of the House Government Efficiency and Fiscal Oversight Committee and sits on the House Energy and Utilities Committee and the House Transportation Committee.