re: Curious as to board’s opinion on KS austerity...

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That a very different story than the data appear to tell.

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I mean inflation doesn’t just go away because you cut spending. And that is just one slice of the Kansas budget.

But I guess I’m not really seeing the point you are trying to get at?

The argument from Brownback and Republicans has been that tax cuts, especially tax cuts targeted at the wealthy and wealthy businesses, will produce enough new revenue from jolting growth that it will actually increase revenue. Neither of those things happened in Kansas. Brownback famously promised 100,000 private sector jobs from his tax policy. He added 14,000. Which even lagged neighboring states.

Brownback absolutely did cut spending, and cut spending in those places Republicans always go on about: education, healthcare, public safety, environment, pensions, transportation, payroll. But the immediate problem with that is those cuts often have a growth depressing effect. You are taking money away from programs that often are immediately spent or used. At least at a much higher rate than the tax cuts you are replacing them with. So it becomes a double problem. You are simultaneously attempting to cut taxes as a means to stimulate growth, but you are cutting off your nose by simultaneously cutting spending that depresses GDP.