Kansas again delays aid payments to schools

Budget problems have forced Kansas to delay $73 million in aid payments due to public school districts at the end of June.

It's the second time in a month that the payments were postponed.

Budget Director Duane Goossen said Wednesday that the state also delayed $31 million worth of tax refunds from June into next week.

Kansas ended its 2009 budget year Tuesday with tax collections falling about $126 million short of expectations.

The $73 million in aid to school districts was supposed to be distributed in the final 11 days of June. Goossen said he expects the payments to be made next week.

Previously, $130 million in payments to schools were delayed from June 1 to Tuesday.