TOPEKA (AP) — State agencies say they may need to make significant cuts to programs and services as Kansas faces a looming budget deficit for the next fiscal year.
Legislators held a joint session of their budget committees on Monday, hearing from state agencies about ways they are cutting back their spending. The state faces a budget deficit of $141 million in the current fiscal year that ends June 30, 2009. That figure is projected to grow to more than $1 billion by June 30, 2010.
Agencies said they would create waiting lists for some social services, close minimum-security prisons and reduce support for public health care.
Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said across-the-board cuts and possibly delaying the phase-in of tax cuts would be considered.
“Based on the magnitude of $1 billion, you’re going to have to have a mix of things that makes this thing work itself out. The key to getting through this is going to be everybody coming to the table because everybody’s going to have skin in the game,” Tafanelli said.
Roger Werholtz, secretary of the Department of Corrections, told legislators his agency would save $2.1 million during the next two fiscal years by closing down minimum-security correctional facilities in Osawatomie and Toronto.
“It will obviously have an economic impact on those communities,” Werholtz said.
The department also will close the Stockton Correctional Facility in fiscal year 2010 and eliminate its planned computer system improvements and a chunk of substance-abuse and sexual offender treatments.
Werholtz said Kansas might have to start reducing sentences to save more money.
The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services said Monday it would freeze any additions to the list of those disabled Kansans eligible to receive in-home care. Secretary Don Jordan said any new openings on the list would remain vacant until the state budget picture improves.
The department also will eliminate the funeral assistance program, which provides funds to low-income Kansans.
Funding for mental health centers and community disability development programs also will be reduced.
“You get to the point where we would have to serve less people,” he said.
Tom Laing, executive director of InterHab, which represents agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities, said the cuts in services are the result of irresponsible tax cuts over the past few years.
“There is a moral compass that has gone completely out of whack,” Laing said.
