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 9
Beverly Gossage (Republican, incumbent)
We made significant strides in tax relief this past session by eliminating the tax on social security, lowering property taxes, and reducing income taxes for families, and the food sales tax phases out at the end of the year.
I believe there is an opportunity to do more, which has to start with property tax relief. I voted for SCR 1611, which would cap valuation increases to 4% each year, which would bring long-term tax relief. I also voted to put inflation-busting triggers into our tax code that expand exemptions for families and homeowners as inflation increases, so the benefits of tax relief do not diminish as prices rise.
I also favor additional steps to further simplify and reduce income taxes in the future, in a responsible way that ensures our budget is balanced and we maintain our rainy day fund.
Norman Mallicoat (Democratic)
I would not seek additional tax cuts as it would be highly unlikely there would be enough agreement in the Kansas legislature as to where those reductions would be placed and also where the government spending cuts to support the reduced tax revenue would occur.
