Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Earlier this summer, lawmakers passed and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law a tax cut package that slashes roughly $2.4 billion in property and income taxes over the next three years. The law reduces state income tax brackets from three tiers to two and eliminates the state tax on Social Security benefits, among other things. Do you think the most recent tax cut bill provides enough relief for Kansans? Why or why not? If elected, would you seek more tax cuts and, if so, what would that look like?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 19
Stephanie Sawyer Clayton (Democratic, incumbent)
While I was proud to support the tax cuts last year, and voted for them, and almost every iteration with the exception of the flat tax, which would’ve been damaging to our budget, I do not think that we went far enough, in particular on sales tax and property tax cuts. I look forward to returning to Topeka to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue to find ways to reduce both our sales taxes and our property taxes.
Mark Hermes (Republican)
Kansas tax law and policy is one issue of attention by citizens. Senate Bill No. 1 signed June 2024 is good. Or, a good approach to meeting the Kansas citizen’s government needs and state responsibilities with tax funding. One could approve of many of the improvements made in current session Kansas tax policy. The 24 page SB-1 law covers many areas of taxation and adjustments to previous law. Too many areas to completely digest in short answers.
Tax policy purpose is to better provide for the financial responsibilities of the state. Decreased tax burden on Kansas citizens, especially, the retired, disabled, continuing education adults, and situational distressed individuals and families should be of focus. Much of Senate Bill 1 addresses these needs.
The reduction of sales tax and property taxes for a balanced taxation is addressed. Cost of living revisions in statues addresses the inflationary cost and valuation changes of our economy. Income limit changes for social security income, increasing the standard deduction and personal exemptions, increase benefit of the homestead, and disabled tax relief are improvements. Specific statue sections address tax reductions for citizens needing tax burden relief.
The university engineering initiative act, and legislation supporting continued education supported by employers is a personal preference for legislation, and is addressed in SB-1.
Special interest groups must always be noted in any tax policy and legislation. This will likely be in much legislation. This issue of burden or benefit preference is for one to read, research, and make ones personal opinion. Abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund for the reduction of the unfunded actuarial liability is statue one could review.
Tax policy will always be a concern of governments and Kansas citizens due in part to economics. “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
