House and Senate budget negotiators worked into the early morning but still lack accord on a spending plan.
They scheduled a fresh round of talks for 10 a.m. today in the Old Supreme Courtroom.
Most of Tuesday’s bargaining was done out of public view in meetings that included Gov. Sam Brownback and key staffers.
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer also monitored most of the public negotiations, which still seemed to hang on the two chambers reaching agreement on the size of the cash reserve or ending balance the state should have for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2012.
The Senate bargaining team, led by Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, in their last public offer said they had reached the $50 million threshold House negotiators said was essential for getting a budget bill through the lower chamber. The House has more than 30 new members, many of whom gained office with Tea Party support after promising to significantly cut state spending.
Rep. Marc Rhoades, R-Newton, chief House negotiator, responded to the last Senate offer by saying the two sides were now quite close to reaching agreement. But he said legislative staffers were not able to confirm that the Senate plan would leave the ending balance the House has demanded.
By 12:30 a.m., Rhoades was saying that the Senate plan still seemed short of the House benchmark by about $20 million.
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Here’s how various programs and agencies were faring based on the last Senate offer:
Safety net clinics
Representatives of the state’s safety net clinics were closely watching what would become of the budget for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The House spending plan deleted $2.2 million from the general fund budget from the agency, which would have meant fewer dollars for the state’s safety net clinics. The Senate’s budget left that money intact.
During the later negotiating rounds, the House countered with a proposal to cut $1.2 million from KDHE, but earmarking for the clinics the other $1 million it had originally proposed cutting from KDHE.
The last Senate offer left the money intact for the clinics and also restored general fund dollars for KDHE.
Mental Health
Rainbow Mental Health Facility
Both chambers agreed early in the bargaining to fund the facility but not restore money to reopen 14 beds closed at the 50-bed state hospital in Kansas City after federal inspectors declared it was understaffed. At one point during the bargaining, officials at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services said they would consider closing the entire hospital, if directed to cut the agency’s budget an additional 5 percent as the House proposed.
Mental health grants/state aid
The governor recommended eliminating funding of $10.2 million in state grants to community mental health centers. But the Senate restored the full sum and the House recommended $7.2 million.
Negotiators ended Tuesday still undecided on the issue, though House members said they would accept the Senate position as part of a bargaining package yet to be sealed.
Kan-ed
The House proposed eliminating the $10 million that supports Kan-ed, a digital broadband network that links the state’s hospitals, libraries and schools. The network is managed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The Senate supported keeping Kan-ed and its funding.
Negotiators remained divided on that item despite multiple preceding offers and counter-offers.
The most recent offer from the Senate was to cut Kan-ed by $1 million and study the program over the summer to see if it should be continued.
SRS
The House proposed cutting $1 million in administrative spending at Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, the state welfare agency. The Senate plan was to cut $1.2 million with the stipulation it come from administrative salaries and another $250,000 from agency operating costs.
As part of a proposed package deal, Senate negotiators on Monday offered to accept the House terms.
State employee health insurance
The House proposed a 5 percent surcharge be imposed on state employees’ health insurance premiums with the estimated proceeds of $3.1 million to be spent on general government services. The Senate budget plan did not include the surcharge. House negotiators offered to reduce the surcharge to 3.5 percent, but Senate negotiators last week still were saying no.
On Monday, as part of a package, Senate bargainers proposed a 2.5 percent surcharge. The money gained from the surcharge would still be diverted to the State General Fund.
Early Childhood
The Senate late Tuesday was holding fast on maintaining funding for several children’s programs that the House planned to cut due to a shortfall in tobacco settlement dollars. The House seemed poised to accept the Senate offer as part of a bargaining package.