Tax Increase

[Hydrilla Gorilla]

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The Kansas House has approved a sales tax increase to bolster the state budget.

The 64-61 vote early Tuesday morning sent the bill to Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson.

The tax bill already passed the Senate. Parkinson is expected to sign it, having urged lawmakers to raise taxes to protect education funding and government programs.

House members held their voting open more than four hours, and it see-sawed back and forth.

The bill will boost the 5.3 percent sales tax to 6.3 percent on July 1, when the state's new fiscal year begins. The tax increase is expected to raise $314 million during the year.

The new revenue will be needed to balance a $13.6 billion state budget that cleared the Legislature on Monday.

[sclark]

Buy that new car or boat before july 1st. .

[War Eagle1]

why don't i just stay home and let them pay me

[Hydrilla Gorilla]

Waht sux even more is the county or local taxes. Such as the tax at the Legends (Cabelas) is currently 7.5, guess it will be 8.5 in July.

[R.D.]

that area is only becuase of the KC local taxes.......otherwise 7.5 isnt so bad....I know NE is still 5.5 but have been trying to increase it by another .5% for while.

Cali is 8.75 with highest local at 10.25.....Nevada is 6.85 with highest local being at 13.......Arizona has 5.6 with local up to 10.6.....Chicga are has 11.5......bt a lot of states have been modifying there "Exemption" rather than inceasing the tax across the board.....and ins some states they dont start taxing thing unless its over $50 opr $100.....as well as having a 8-10% tax on Prepared food.

[GClark519]

Guess thats what happens when you cut taxes and spend the large surplus that Kansas had. 1 cent is not going to do us in to help pay for school, roads, and other social programs. I don't like if but understand it is needed and we ALL have pay for this not just property owners. I do know if they had not passed this it would have gutted public education. Not the best but the best we can do. I will still sleep tonight.

[MMesplay]

How do they pass a budget without being able to fund it first? Sounds like they had the cart before the horse. What wasn't mentioned above is that the legislation reduces the tax in a couple of years, but not by an entire cent. This tax is just to fill the void for the time being. Does anyone know how much tax revenue a casino or two would generate in Kansas?

[chadku]

there was no other choice but to do this. Education and social services have been hit too hard already. I do not agree that we should have to raise taxes, but because of the bad decisions in recent past we have too.