KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Senate has approved an education funding proposal despite bipartisan skepticism that the spending increase is enough to satisfy a state Supreme Court mandate.
The vote Thursday was 21-18 on a bill that would phase in a $274 million increase in education funding over five years. The measure goes next to the House.
But the House has approved a plan to phase in a roughly $520 million increase over five years. Top Senate Republicans do not believe the state can afford the House plan without increasing taxes within two years.
The final version of the plan will be drafted by negotiators for the two chambers.
The Supreme Court ruled in October that the state's current education funding of more than $4 billion a year is not sufficient.
