The following is a column written by Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis:

The Kansas House of Representatives voted last week on the FY 2010 budget bill. The proposal, approved at a vote of 70-54, cuts Kansas public schools by $25 million. Because public education is one of Kansas’ most important investments, House Democrats stood in opposition to the bill.

After years of neglect, the shameful inadequacies in Kansas school funding were brought to light by way of the lawsuit Montoy vs. State of Kansas. The case spanned nine years, went all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court and culminated in a 15-day special legislative session in 2005 devoted solely to school finance. In the end, the Legislature committed to a three-year school funding plan, finally making Kansas schoolchildren a priority.

In the years following, we have received an astounding return on our investment. Reading and math test scores are up, our students score among the highest in the nation on the ACT and more kids are earning their high school diplomas. This remarkable progress proves that effectively funding K12 education pays off.

Taxpayers’ total bill to finally obtain this commitment was, however, astronomical. Public school districts spent $3 million in court costs, the state spent millions defending the suit and the total cost of the 2005 special session ended at $573,000. All this money spent just to prod the Legislature into doing something it should have been doing all along.

Now we are backtracking yet again.

The perceived $25 million cut to education in FY 2010 has been misrepresented by the inclusion of KPERS money. Districts receive the money for employee retirements (the same as every state agency) and within 24 hours must deposit it into the KPERS fund with the state. None of that money goes to the classroom. This year, in an effort to make public school cuts appear less harmful, KPERS funding has been lumped into the total allocation for education for the first time ever.

In addition, FY 2010 budget cuts will fall disproportionately on rural school districts that rely more heavily on state funding. Many districts will unfairly be faced with very difficult cuts in personnel and programs for students. All children in Kansas deserve a high caliber education, regardless of their geographic location.

Finally, the budget fails to account for at least $50 million in gaming revenues. Had these funds been utilized, they would have easily allowed us to maintain our current funding level of $4,400 in base state aid per pupil, avoiding further cuts altogether.

Although there are positive allocations in the 2010 budget, cutting K12 education was not a sound business decision. After all the money and time we have spent protecting Kansas kids, it is in everyone’s best interest to hold public schools as harmless as possible in this budget crisis. Taxpayers have spent enough money goading the Legislature into fulfilling its responsibilities. Reneging on our commitment yet again is highly irresponsible and is likely to cost millions more than FY 2010 cuts will ever save.