Conferee urges spending limits, zero-based budgeting and independent efficiency audits

Dr. Vance Ginn, a conferee before the Committee on Government Efficiency, told legislators the state should adopt a “responsible Kansas budget” that limits total spending to no more than population growth plus inflation and use that cap to prioritize spending.

Ginn said such a cap would “allow for a macro growth rate” so education, Medicaid or other priorities can grow but the total budget would not exceed what the average taxpayer can afford. He described the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) as “kind of the gold standard” for spending limits and said Texas and Florida offer other useful budgeting models.

The presentation emphasized several reforms that Ginn urged the committee to consider: annual budget analyses during interims, zero‑based and priority‑based budgeting to avoid “budget inertia,” independent efficiency audits, and a mechanism to penalize agencies that do not comply with performance‑based budgeting. Ginn recommended a potential 5% cut for agencies that fail to meet performance requirements as one enforcement option. He also stressed care about dependence on federal funds, saying federal cuts to programs such as Medicaid could materially affect the state budget.

Ginn pointed to administrative consolidations used in other states, noting Utah’s “one‑door” approach that co‑locates workforce and health and human services functions to improve access and reduce duplication. He suggested the committee could review Senate Bill 99-type proposals that measure vacant positions to assess whether long‑unfilled FTEs should be eliminated.

Committee members pressed Ginn on practical markers for measuring program effectiveness and on how a 90‑day legislative session would accommodate deeper budget work. Senator Shane asked what objective markers other states use; Ginn answered that first identifying program goals and then measuring outcomes against those goals is fundamental. Senator Thompson raised concern about the committee’s capacity to “dive in” and asked whether to start by agencies or programs; Ginn said inviting agency heads for line‑by‑line review, as done at the Office of Management and Budget, is a proven approach.

The chair thanked Ginn for his presentation and opened the floor to the committee’s legislative work.