TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has collected more tax revenue than expected almost every month for more than two years, and Republicans are growing increasingly angry that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly still insists that the state can’t afford income tax cuts favored by the GOP-controlled Legislature.
The state Department of Revenue reported Monday that tax collections in January were nearly $60 million more than anticipated, a 9% surplus for the month. Since the current budget year began in July, tax collections have run nearly $111 million more than expectations — and that’s after state officials and economists boosted revenue projections in November.
Kansas has seen tax collections beat expectations 31 of the past 32 months, dating back to June 2017, even as expectations have risen. Top Republicans believe a key reason is that some individuals and businesses are paying more in state income taxes because of changes in the federal tax code at the end of 2017.