Weekend Movie

Brian and I saw the movie "Source Code" on Saturday evening. The girls went to see Water for Elephants. Source Code is about a decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens who wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever ...known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the "Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last eight minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack. Good movie.

Happy Birthday Debbie

Happy Birthday to my number one girl and best friend. She turns 50 years young today! Yes, she is older than me. Love you Debbie!

Easter

We had a great Easter weekend in NE Kansas. We drove up Thursday night to Kansas City. On Friday I went fishing with Brian and Mike at Pomona Lake. We caught 8 catfish. We ate at the famous Green Acres on Friday evening then went to Garnett for the night. Saturday we attended the Easter Parade in Garnett before leaving for Kansas City. We spent Saturday shopping and watching movies. Sunday we attended Easter Worship at the Overland Park Church of Christ. They had about 850 at the early service we attended. After worship we ate and enjoyed spending good family time together. It was a terrific weekend!

Easter Bunnies

The bunnies are back this Easter!

Fishing at Pomona Lake

We had a great time fishing at Pomona Lake on Friday. We caught several catfish.

Sunday

A great day of worship at Rocketdyne and 18 holes of golf at Neosho. It was windy but at least it was warm.

School Finance News

Kan. forecasters cut revenue projections $32M

By John Hanna

Created Apr 15 2011 - 6:36pm

Kansas officials Friday predicted solid economic growth through June 2012, even as they cut the state’s revenue projections for the same period by $32 million and possibly complicated the Legislature’s budget debate.

Fiscal forecasters said the new numbers represent good news because some growth in tax collections will partially offset losses in revenues caused by changes in the federal tax code. Had it not been for the federal changes, the state forecasters said, they would have increased revenue projections.

The changes in the projections are relatively small. The state still expects to take in almost $5.8 billion in general revenues during the current fiscal year and a little more than that during the fiscal year that begins July 1.

“We are pretty optimistic that we’re on the right track right now, and I see good things for the future of Kansas in revenues,” said state budget director Steve Anderson, one of the forecasters. “We see a growing economy.”

University economists, legislative researchers, Kansas Department of Revenue officials, and Anderson and other members of Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget staff made the forecast public after a two-hour closed meeting. Lawmakers use the semiannual forecasts in budgeting.

The forecasters reduced their earlier prediction for the current fiscal year by $10 million, or 0.2 of a percent.

For the fiscal year beginning July 1, they revised the projection downward by $22 million, or 0.4 of a percent.

Legislators return April 27 from their annual spring break to wrap up their business for the year. The House and Senate must negotiate a final version of a proposed $14 billion budget after having approved separate proposals for the next fiscal year, relying also on federal funds and other sources to help finance state operations.

The final version of the budget is likely to cut the state’s overall spending by between 5 percent and 6 percent, largely reflecting the disappearance of federal economic stimulus funds. It also likely will come close to Brownback’s proposal to cut base aid to Kansas’ public schools by $232 per student, or 5.8 percent.

With the new revenue projections, the House’s version of the budget would leave about $48 million in reserves at the end of the next fiscal year. But the Senate’s version would result in a $23 million deficit, something prohibited under the Kansas Constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican, said his chamber now faces accepting more of the House’s budget ideas than it has during negotiations.

“We can’t be in the red,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly what else will be cut, but something else will have to be cut.”

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Carolyn McGinn, a Sedgwick Republican, said she is still hoping to protect core services, adding, “There are some positive signs that our economy is improving, and that’s certainly a good thing.”

House Speaker Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, said the new projections show the state needs to build up healthy reserves, which he said is a priority for the GOP majority in his chamber.

“With the current economic uncertainty and significant policy changes being made in Washington, it is critical to pass a fiscally responsible budget,” he said.

State Democratic Party chairwoman Joan Wagnon, a former revenue secretary, said the new numbers show that Republican legislators who have advocated additional business tax cuts need to stop pushing the idea.

Alan Conroy, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, said changes in federal tax laws approved by Congress in December include breaks for businesses for such expenses as the purchase of new machinery. He said they will cost Kansas about $77 million total through mid-2012 because its tax code is tied to the federal one.

Conroy said the forecasters still worry about the state’s unemployment rate, which was relatively high at 6.8 percent in February.

He said they also are concerned that high gasoline prices will dampen other consumer spending, costing the state sales tax revenues. The state doesn’t impose its sales tax on motor fuel.

Yet, he said, the forecasters also expect Kansans’ personal incomes to grow about 4 percent during 2011 and about 5 percent next year.

“Clearly, I think, the Kansas economy is starting to come out of the Great Recession,” Conroy said. “I think we’re pointed in the right directions.”

And Anderson said the changes in the federal tax code ultimately are positive because they reward businesses for investments and are likely to create economic growth.

“I’m reasonably optimistic that we’re on course for a great recovery,” he said.

Best Pizza

I have told all my friends several times that the best pizza in all the world is not from New York City, but from Gusano's in Joplin, Missouri. Best deep dish anywhere. The Carnivore is the greatest. All meat. They have five locations in Arkansas as well.

Saturday Golf

Saturday golf with my dad in Broken Arrow.

It was a beautiful day for

my first round of the year.

Watch Out!

How do you know when it is time to "hang up the car keys"

I say when your dog has this look on his face!