Ark Valley News - Reps explain vote on funding

Reps explain vote on funding
Last Updated: April 18, 2019

Gov. Laura Kelly called it a "reasonable, good-faith effort" to address the Kansas Supreme Court direction to fully fund public schools.

Sen. Carolyn McGinn said it addresses the court's ruling that a previous funding measure failed to account for inflation.

Kelly signed the legislation into law April 6.

But two Kansas House representatives from Valley Center and Park City voted against SB 16, which pumps $90 million more in state funds into public schools. The court is expected to rule on the law later this spring.

We invited Rep. Emil Bergquist, R-Park City, and Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center, to explain their votes.

This is what Bergquist said:

"The people of District 91 have asked for accountability in education funding. I voted for just that in our first round with SB16. Expecting reported actions and results from school systems for curriculum and instruction is what folks are asking for. They want sufficient training and pay for teachers and academic focus time for students. It is the Legislature's responsibility to determine the funding for these things, not the court's.

"The package that came back to us stripped of much of the accountability out, and higher funding year over year put back in.

"The governor's numbers, matched in this final SB16, will drive our state's finances into the red almost immediately, and will prevent the Legislature from funding essential programs and core services for years to come. If we want to help those programs and individuals truly hurting right now, we need to make sure there is real accountability in how the money is spent. Though there are some measures in this bill, I believe more are needed to better define good financing.

"Finally the vote we took to reject the governor's budget plan to reamortize the KPERS program was one move that should help bring stability to our teachers and others public workers in Kansas, and save the taxpayers over $7 billion in interest payments."

Here is Huebert's response:

"Right now, 52 percent of our budget is dedicated to our K-12 schools; $3.13 billion in new school funding has been added over the past two years. Last year, the Senate said there was no way the state could fund that plan in the out years. Now, this bill will add another $360 million to that amount.

"Six things would have to happen in order for the Legislature and the governor to keep this promise:

•The Supreme Court would have to rule in favor of funding that isn't based in their opinion.

•We'll have to raise taxes.

•We will not be able to lower the food sales tax.

•We'd have to keep the Bank of KDOT open.

•We will not be able to make KPERS payments.

•There cannot be a recession.

"I voted for the school funding increases in 2018 and two-year $180 million increase in HB2395 this year. Funding increases after 2020-21 will have to be approved by legislators in the 2021 session. I believe there will be a recession by 2021, and the promises made in SB16 cannot be kept."

— The Ark Valley News