Lawmakers looking to restore funding for Kansas Schools for the Deaf and Blind

KANSAS (KSNT) – Kansas lawmakers are planning to address budget cuts that impacted the Kansas Schools for the Deaf and Blind, which some say was a mistake.

Earlier this year, lawmakers implemented a 1.5 percent budget cut across several state agencies, saving taxpayers $7 million. However, the cuts required the two Kansas Schools for the Deaf and Blind to trim more than $300,000 from their budgets.

Lawmakers discovered this during a Government Efficiency meeting. Kansas Republican Senator Doug Shane tells us, the legislature wanted the schools to be exempt from the cuts.

“Certainly, we did not want to see those cuts impact the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind. Those are really vital assets to our state,” said Shane.

Lawmakers tell us, the schools have seen the impact of these cuts, and have had to make staffing adjustments.

Other state agencies impacted by the budget reduction bill include the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Both departments have lost more than $3.4 million collectively.

You can view the 2024-2026 Kansas State School for the Deaf budget summary by clicking here.

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