March 28, 2024

Estes: Raising Property Taxes Is Not the Answer For State Budget Woes

Dodge City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) While there seems to be very little debate among incoming legislators that tax increases will be needed to fill in a $350 million dollar budget shortfall the question is which ones? One area where both State Senator John Doll and Senator Bud Estes agree is on property tax. Estes is holding firm to leave property tax alone.

 

Estes will have an important new role in moving from the Kansas House to the Senate. For the first time he will serve on the education committee.  Estes remains confident the State Supreme Court will do the right thing and that there is an amount which will serve everyone’s interest.

Another assignment for Estes is on the Senate Agriculture Committee.  

Estes realizes many of the budget problems our area faces has contributed to the problems with keeping our state budget afloat.

Still while many of the problems farmers face are dictated by federal policy, here is what little the state can do.

The session in Topeka begins the afternoon of January 9th. The State of the State address from Governor Brownback is the following day.