JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback says budget problems won’t prevent Kansas from continuing to move toward eliminating its income taxes.

In prepared remarks distributed before the annual State of the State address Thursday night, Brownback also called for overhauling the state’s formula for distributing aid to public schools.

But Brownback wasn’t specific about how he plans to close projected shortfalls of more than $710 million in the state’s current budget and the one for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The governor said only that he will present proposals Friday to balance the budget through June 2017.

The shortfalls occurred after legislators aggressively cut income taxes at Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka said in the Democratic response that Brownback’s fiscal policies have failed.