Kansas Association of Community College Trustees

KACCT Newsletter
March 25, 2005

700 S. W. Jackson, Ste. 1000, Topeka, Kansas 66603 - (785)-357-5156

Conference Committees Ready to Start Budget Deliberations….Following a very late night for House members who adjourned just after 11 p.m. on Thursday, the House and Senate sessions today, Friday, March 25, are expected to end early so that legislators may return home for Easter weekend.  However, the budget conference committee will meet today for the first run through of each body’s version of the mega budget, HB 2482 and SB 270.   The Senate approved their bill Thursday, voting 30-9, on a package which includes a 2.5 percent pay raise for state employees, an addition of $150,000 more for Parents as Teachers and a $390,000 prescription drug for the poor program.  In regard to community colleges, the Senate bill supports the Governor’s recommendation of a $5.1 million operating grant for the colleges and offers a separate $3.1 million to offset the funding lost by buying down out-district tuition form $12 to $6 per credit hour.  The House version provides the operating grant, but has no provision for replacing the lost out-district tuition funding although the House Appropriations Committee has a bill ready that would delay the out-district tuition buy-down another year.  Whether they pull the trigger and take that bill to the floor will be determined by the discussions in the conference committee.  While there are many differences in the two budgets, the most significant area to note is K-12 funding.  The House offers about $115 million for K-12 while the Senate K-12 plan, expected to cost about $140 million, is not addressed in their budget.

“We Aren’t Hearing from Higher Education Constituents”….Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park, told those attending this week’s third meeting of the Higher Education Caucus that, in spite of critical funding issues facing colleges and universities, “We aren’t hearing from higher education constituents.”  His comments were echoed by other legislators in attendance who compared the apathy of higher education constituents to the much more vocal K-12 funding supporters.  President Jon Wefald, Kansas State University, told participants that students who go to school in Kansas are more likely to stay in Kansas following graduation.  President Reggie Robinson, Kansas Board of Regents, thanked legislators for their work, but noted that the Regents were encouraging their support of the Governor’s budget recommendations or Senate recommendations over those of the House.  The House version of the budget would mean a $2.28 million reduction in State General Fund money “real” dollars for the universities.  Another guest at the meeting, former Lt. Governor Gary Sherrer, said that Kansas has a high percentage of its students involved in higher education, but pointed out “we will drive them away with higher tuitions.”  Noting that we need to encourage grass roots support and, at the same time, remind people that higher education is an extension of the K-12 continuum, legislators talked about ways to promote legislative support of community colleges, technical schools and universities. 

Legislators attending the Higher Ed caucus included:  Sen. Jim Barone, D-Frontenac; Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence; Rep. Stephanie Sharp, R-Lenexa; Rep. Kenny Wilk, R- Lansing; Rep. Tim Owens, R-Overland Park; Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City; Rep. Tom Hawk, D-Manhattan; Rep. Melody Miller, D-Wichita; Rep. Carl Krehbiel, R-Moundridge; Rep. Tom Thull, D-North Newton; Rep. Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan; Rep. Mike Burgess, R-Topeka; Rep. Jo Ann Pottorff, R-Wichita; Rep. Deena Horst, R-Salina; Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Overland Park; Sen. Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan; Rep. Jeff Jack, R-Parsons; Rep. John Faber, R-Brewster; Rep. Ed O’Malley, R-Roeland Park; Rep. Terrie Huntington, R-Mission Hills; Rep. Dan Johnson, R-Hays; Rep. Barbara Craft, R-Junction City; Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence; Rep. Everett Johnson, R-Augusta; and Rep. Joe McLeland, R-Wichita.  It is important to thank them when the opportunity arises for their interest in higher education.

Other Action of Interest….The tuberculosis screening bill approved by the Senate was amended into another House bill yesterday and now moves onto the next step, a conference committee.  KDHE officials are encouraged that this measure will get to the Governor’s desk yet….The Kansas Mathematics and Science Academy bill was not as fortunate with the House citing cost as their chief objection before defeating the measure…SB 48, already approved in the Senate concerning contracts entered into by school districts, technical colleges and school districts will see final action in the House today and is expected to move on to the Governor.

The Week Ahead….Next week marks the last week that the legislature will be in session before first adjournment.  This falls a week earlier than usual to allow more days for the veto session.  Conference committees are expected to resume Aril 20-21 with the full legislature returning to Topeka on April 27^th. 

Important Resources to gather legislative and budget information:
www.accesskansas.org
www.kslegislature.org Kansas Legislature
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/klrd.html Legislative Research Department