MONTGOMERY — Both the Education Trust Fund and General Fund budgets passed out of their respective House and Senate Committees on Wednesday.
The Education Trust Fund budget and supplemental legislation will be heard in the House on Thursday. The General Fund budget and supplemental legislation will be heard in the Senate.
One of the biggest changes in the Education Trust Fund supplemental in the House version compared to the Senate's was doubling the income tax rebate check total amount from $275 million to $550 million.
The total would amount to a $210 rebate check to single Alabama taxpayers and $420 to joint filers, according to State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville).
The General Fund budget that passed out of a Senate committee on Wednesday contained a $2.5 million appropriation to Birmingham's World Games in 2022, which finished with a large financial deficit.
A $5 million proposed bailout of Birmingham's World Games 2022 was left out of the educational budget supplemental passed by the Senate earlier in the month. However, state legislators were still getting requests to put the funding back in elsewhere.
Birmingham hosted The World Games 2022 in July. About 3,500 athletes competed from 99 different countries in 34 sports. The games took place around 23 venues throughout the greater Birmingham area. According to a press release, 375,000 spectators watched the event.
However, the event racked up a $15 million deficit. Birmingham City Council approved a $5 million appropriation in August to cover some of the deficit. Jefferson County Commissioners approved $4 million of their federal American Rescue Plan Act allotment to go towards the shortfall. The Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau gave $1 million towards the debt in October.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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