Kansas Governor Sam Brownback will cut $50 million from schools and he will also ask the Legislature to reallocate money so that the state can cope with the increased costs of health care in the state. The school funding cuts takes up majority of the $56.5 million in total cuts that the governor announced last Friday.

Sam-Brownback The Republican governor said that the cuts are necessary so that it could meet the constitutional requirements of the state budget when the fiscal year ends in June. The reduction to the state aid to education would decrease the state’s annual spending per pupil from $4,012 to $3,990.

The announcement came when there are just a few months left in the academic year. At this point, schools have already teacher contracts and other financial responsibilities that they should pay. School districts would find it hard to absorb the cuts without affecting the classroom environment.

The other state cuts planned by the governor include $2.32 million from colleges and universities; $2.3 million from Social and Rehabilitation Services; $1.31 million from State Finance Council; $212,656 from the Department of Administration; $52,302 from the Wildlife and Parks; $40,454 from the Court of Tax Appeals; $38,585 from the Attorney General; and $30,000 from the Arts Commission.