Kansas legislators, Kelly face taxing reform options
TOPEKA — Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman echoed Tuesday the no-tax-hike mantra of Democratic Gov.-elect Laura Kelly.
“Candidate Kelly talked about how she didn’t want to raise taxes. Obviously, Republicans don’t want to raise taxes. If we don’t do anything by April 15, our taxes will be raised,” said Ryckman, an Olathe Republican.
This tax issue, considered by the 2018 Legislature but punted to the session starting Monday, centers on a windfall to the state treasury of more than $100 million resulting from changes to the federal tax code.
One option for funneling the windfall to Kansans would be to guarantee taxpayers the right to itemize deductions on their 2018 state returns even if they didn’t on their federal returns. Lawmakers also have suggested reducing the state’s standard income tax deduction or allowing a higher deduction on state taxes for mortgage interest and medical bills.
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