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Candidate For Kansas Governor Calls For $600M More In School Funding

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Former Kansas lawmaker Jim Barnett, who hopes to be the next governor, called Thursday for another $600 million in public school funding.

Barnett’s position could distinguish him from more conservative rivals like Kris Kobach as the Republican primary with well over a dozen candidates heats up.

In strong contrast to Kobach, Barnett praised the 2017 legislature for hiking taxes, a move that paid for this year’s $200 million school funding boost, among other expenses.

But the Topeka resident said after visiting districts around the state, he’s convinced that $200 million wasn’t enough.

"So there's no doubt in my mind that funding is inadequate and funding is inequitable," he said.

He wants to increase funding by $600 million over the next three years. He says that would be enough to end a years-long legal battle with school districts.

That dollar amount is in the ballpark of what districts are calling for.

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Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is based in the Kansas News Service’s Topeka newsroom. She writes about how the world is transforming around us, from topsoil loss and invasive species to climate change. He aims to explain why these stories matter to Kansas, and to report on the farmers, ranchers, scientists and other engaged people working to make Kansas more resilient. Email me at celia@kcur.org.