Archive for Thursday, February 17, 2005  Lansing, Shawnee
lawmakers introduce school funding plan  February 17, 2005  —
Kansas public schools would receive a $208.4 million increase in
the next two years, and a host of programs aimed at improving
education under a proposal unveiled Friday.  The "Investment in
Excellence" plan contains no statewide tax increase, but would
let local areas vote on increasing taxes for schools.  "We're
presenting a plan we hope gets kids ready for the 21st century
economy," said Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, who with Rep. Kenny
Wilk, R-Lansing, put the proposal together.  The plan relies on
increased tax collections through economic growth, using money
from the state's cash reserves and reallocating funds from the
tobacco lawsuit settlement.  "I think our Kansas economy is well
on its way to recovery," Wilk said, adding that a statewide tax
rate increase could hamper that recovery.  Both Jordan and Wilk
said they believed their proposal would resolve a Kansas Supreme
Court order o