About Fiscal Focus
Kansas Action for Children works to improve the economic success of Kansas children and their families through its Fiscal Focus project. The goal of Fiscal Focus is to ensure a balanced tax system and budget process that protects the well-being of Kansas children and their families, and provides for a stable system of state revenues.
Kansas families must have the opportunity to meet their children’s basic economic and developmental needs such as food, clothing, transportation, health care, education and safe and affordable housing. Ensuring this opportunity requires that essential supports for families are a priority in the state budget process, that state finances are managed in a fiscally-sound manner, and that the tax system fairly distributes the tax burden among income levels.
Recent Reports & Publications
Fiscal Focus 2009: Improving the Economic Development System in Kansas
This Fiscal Focus report reviews the state's economic development expenditures, and offers recommendations for alternative eco-devo measures that have proven effective and sustainable in other states.
Fiscal Focus 2009: The Kansas Budget Gap
This Fiscal Focus report addresses the root of the budget gap problem in Kansas, how the gap is impacting the viability of our state, and what we can do to get Kansas finances back on track.
Fiscal Focus 2009: Child Care in Kansas
This Fiscal Focus report explores the quality and affordability of child care in Kansas, as well as options for Kansas to make long-term improvements to its child care system by utilizing federal stimulus dollars specifically designated for child care purposes.
Fiscal Focus 2009: KIDS Matching Grant Program
This Fiscal Focus report summarizes the logistics of the KIDS Matching Grant Program, and discusses how this college savings plan for low-income Kansas families stands to strengthen the state's future workforce.
Fiscal Focus 2009: Proposition K
This Fiscal Focus report provides an overview of how Proposition K, a proposal to alter the property tax system in Kansas, would negatively impact Kansas taxpayers and communities.
Fiscal Focus 2009: Federal Stimulus
This Fiscal Focus report outlines how Kansas children and families could benefit from provisions in the Federal Stimulus package.
Asset-Building Roadmap for Kansas
Full Report | Executive Summary
This report outlines existing asset-building policies in Kansas and discusses opportunities to strengthen efforts that will encourage more Kansas families to achieve financial prosperity.
Fiscal Focus 2008: Predatory Lending
This Fiscal Focus report summarizes three areas of predatory lending - payday loans, car title loans and subprime mortgages - and outlines consumer protection recommendations that would prevent the harmful economic outcomes often associated with predatory lending.
www.TELtheTruth.com
Fiscal Focus has launched a new Coalition for a Prosperous Kansas Web site. The site is dedicated to providing resources on the harmful effects of TABOR and Tax and Expenditure Limitations.
Recent Testimony
Kansas Action for Children presented testimony on a number of economic issues that impact Kansas children and families. Our 2009 testimony includes:
