Robert Thomas - Kansas House 61 - Property Taxes and Education Funding

Robert Thomas is running for Kansas House District 61, representing parts of Jackson, Pottawatomie, and Riley counties, including Holton, Delia, Westmoreland, St. Marys, Onaga, and parts of Manhattan.In this portion of the conversation, Thomas discusses property taxes and how they connect to education funding, emphasizing that much of property tax revenue is collected and spent at the local level, primarily for schools. He explains his focus on reducing income taxes at the state level while acknowledging that property taxes remain a significant concern for many Kansans.The discussion explores potential approaches to education funding, including school choice options, charter schools, and the role of public versus private funding. Thomas raises concerns about using public money for private institutions while also recognizing the need to evaluate different education models. Both discuss the complexity of balancing costs, quality education, and local control, highlighting that different school districts have different needs and that statewide policies may not work uniformly across all communities.See the full interview on Kansas Helen Substack and learn more about Kansas House District 61, including the most recent campaign finance analysis here: https://kansashelen.substack.com/s/kansas-houseYou can now also watch on Kansas Helen Youtube or listen on the Kansas Helen Podcast on Apple and Spotify#kansas #ksleg #vote #2026elections #kansashouse Get full access to Kansas Helen at kansashelen.substack.com/subscribe