Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback says he is open to raising the sales tax to fill gaps in state’s budget.

Brownback said during a news conference Thursday that over time he would like to shift the state from income and property taxes to consumption taxes.

The state faces budget shortfalls of nearly $600 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The Senate passed a budget in March that does not balance without tax increases.

The governor has recommended raising taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to generate the revenue needed to fill the budget gaps.

He said Thursday that he hopes the Legislature will come up with a broad mix of consumption taxes and would be open to an overall sales tax hike.