The Kansas Senate has approved a new plan for raising sales and cigarette taxes to close a projected budget shortfall.
The 21-17 vote Sunday represented the first time this year that the chamber has approved a plan for raising enough new revenues to balance the budget. The action came on the 108th day of an annual legislative session that is now the longest in state history.
The plan would raise $423 million during the fiscal year that begins July 1. The sales tax would increase to 6.55 percent from 6.15 percent and the cigarette tax would go up by 50 cents a pack to $1.29.
The measure also would raise $24 million during the next fiscal year by increasing taxes for business owners.
The plan goes next to the House.
