Kansas legislators have approved a $131 million budget for the state court system for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to avoid the possibility that judicial offices would close otherwise.
The House approved the proposed budget Monday on an 88-26 vote. The Senate approved it 25-14 on Sunday. The measure goes next to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
The budget would increase total spending on the courts by nearly $2.5 million, or about 1.9 percent. But the Kansas Supreme Court requested a budget of $149 million, so some lawmakers said the approved amount is inadequate.
But it's the first piece of the next state budget to clear the Legislature. Budget Director Shawn Sullivan has said nonessential state workers will be furloughed if no budget is in place by Sunday.
