State of KS employees may not get paid. GOP playing with your life again

[greenbriar]

http://www.kansas.com/news/breaking/story/701750.html


TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas has suspended income tax refunds and may not be able to pay employees on time, the state's budget director said Monday.

The state doesn't have enough money in its main bank account to pay its bills, prompting Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to suggest transferring $225 million from other accounts throughout state government. But the move required approval from legislative leaders, and the GOP refused Monday.

Budget Director Duane Goossen said that without the money, he's not sure the state can meet its payroll. State employees are due to be paid again Friday.

Goossen said the state stopped processing income tax refunds last week.

GOP leaders are hoping to pressure Sebelius into signing a bill making $326 million in adjustments to the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Legislators approved that bill last week, but it has not reached her desk.

Goossen said the state might also have to delay payments to public schools and to doctors who provide care to Kansans under the Medicaid program.

The state has transferred funds before when it has been short of cash in its main bank account. Most recently, the state issued the special certificates required in July and December for transfers totaling $550 million.

Each certificate requires the approval of the State Finance Council, which consists of the governor and eight top legislative leaders.

The council was scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Monday, but Goossen said Sebelius canceled the meeting because Republican leaders told her they would not authorize the internal borrowing.

[msongs]

1. same as in California - ONE repub is holding up the budget nt

[greenbriar]

14. how do people not see this

the gop only cares about party

NOT american citizens

[tridim]

2. I bet Sebelius gets 100% of the blame

This is Kansas after all.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. The GOP, especially the far right, really hates her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. dupe

[Telly Savalas]

10. Who elected her to office? Missourians? Nebraskans?

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Democrats and Moderate Republicans

They outnumber the far right. But the far right is just louder.

[greenbriar]

3. my check could be involved grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Goossen said the state might also have to delay payments to public schools and to doctors who provide care to Kansans under the Medicaid program.

[greenbriar]

4. any other KS school teachers on here?

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. No probably not

The money for your salary should already be in your district's account. They get those funds months ahead of time.

This is just scare tactics.

They are bastards.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Those bastards!!

:mad:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Email from the education group I belong to:

Greetings!

Just when you think it can't get any worse, those under the dome in Topeka think a political stunt is what real life Kansans are looking for.

Today the State Finance Council was to meet and hear the budget director's recommendation to issue $225 million in certificates of indebtedness to handle cash-flow problems and would allow Kansas to continue to pay its bills until revenues pick up. Taxes start rolling in after the April 15th deadline. Those who owe taxes wait until then to file, and those who are due a refund usually file earlier.

The meeting of the Council was canceled after the Speaker of the House, Mike O'Neal and Senate President, Steve Morris said they would not allow the other Republicans on the Council to support the move until Governor Sebelius signed the 2009 budget bill. First, the Governor doesn't even have the bill on her desk yet. Second, I would bet that most Kansans would expect that the Governor and her staff read the bill before she signs it. Third, even if the bill was signed today, the transfer is still necessary.

So why the showdown? Politics at its worst! Is this a first for the state to issue these certificates? Absolutely not. In fact the use of these certificates has been approved every year for the last decade.

What does this mean for Kansans? It means that the state has suspended tax refunds that hard working Kansans are expecting, some are relying on that money to pay bills. It means a possible delay in another school aid payment to local school districts, and finally it means that state employees may not receive their paychecks on Friday.

Please contact Speaker of the House, Mike O'Neal 785-296-2302 and
Senate President, Steve Morris 785-296-2419 and tell them that our schools can't afford these kind of politics. There are better ways to negotiate with the Governor, and jeopardizing already strapped school districts and jeopardizing the paychecks of state workers is unacceptable!

[greenbriar]

12. we used to get paid on the last working day of the month but our district changed it to the 20th

to stop the 6 week gaps during christmas and other months



just so happens that this month our payday is Friday


if I don't get paid, I can't afford gas to get to work

groceries

my house payment my vehicle payment ect...........

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. YOU WILL GET PAID

This is bullshit. In the first place, you don't work for the state of Kansas, you work for your school district. My district has enough on hand in August to pay the bills for the entire year. And my district is poor. So I feel 99% certain your district has the money to meet the payroll on Friday, and for the rest of the school year.

Districts also have what they call 'reserve funds' which are basically savings accounts. Reserve funds usually have at least a year's worth of money in them. In some states, it is a law that districts have to keep so much in a reserve fund at all times. And those funds are used for situations just like this one, with state aid delayed.

The state of Kansas is NOT going broke. This is just theater on the GOP's part and it is working like a charm. Yes, revenue is down but checks are not bouncing.

So relax, and stop worrying about your paycheck. It will be there.

You guys also should negotiate twice monthly paydays. That's how we get paid and so does KCKS. On the 15th and the 30th. It is ridiculous that any employer pays only once a month. You get hit with higher witholding and it's harder to keep a budget. It's just laziness on your district's part that they only pay you once a month. I am amazed by how many school districts still do that.

Is there still an AFT chapter in Wichita or is it NEA now?

[greenbriar]

17. we have UTW a combo

that includes NEA and AFT and local too

I would love to be paid 2x a month

I know we pay higher taxes

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Oh you merged; that's great

I wondered cause I go to AFT national stuff and hadn't seen any Wichita teachers there in awhile.

Next time you negotiate your contract you should suggest asking for twice monthly paydays. :)

[greenbriar]

20. would LOVE that!

once a month is crazy

[greenbriar]

13. if we don't get paid, we will be okay for a month or two

but many of my co-workers would be crushed

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. If I didn't get paid, I wouldn't show up to work

And so would nearly every other teacher in my district. I can't think of a better reason for a strike.

[hfojvt]

19. thanks for bringing that to my attention

I am not sure if I am getting a tax refund or not.