Amid an ongoing financial crisis, Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has proposed an increase in state sales taxes and higher tobacco taxes in order to avoid further cuts in schools and other state services.

Before increasing taxes, officials should ask themselves why state tax revenues are expected to decline for the fourth straight year. It is because Kansas Citizens and small businesses are making less money as they struggle through the current recession. Higher state taxes would burden them even more.

Under the governor's proposal, the sales tax increase would expire in three years, unless extended by lawmakers. When is the last time you heard of a tax going away? The sales tax increase passed in 2002 was also supposed to expire, but the legislature voted to continue it.

As difficult as it may be, lawmakers should resist raising taxes and tell schools and state agencies to do more with less. Ordinary citizens are doing it, why shouldn't the state?

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