Governor Kay Ivey has approved the State General Fund (GF) and Education Trust Fund (ETF) budgets and supplemental appropriations for the 2024 fiscal year.
Last Thursday, both bodies of the Alabama Legislature went through midnight Friday debating and negotiating both budgets.
The ETF maintained over $100 million in prison funding, which Education Budget Committee chairman State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) insisted was for educational facilities for inmates. It also included one-time tax rebates of $150 for single filers and $300 for married voters filing jointly.
“I am proud to officially put my signature on yet another historic investment in our students, teachers and schools,” Ivey said. “Alabama is serious about changing the trajectory of student outcomes, and our steady progress in the classroom and this record-setting education budget prove that to be the Gospel Truth. We are expanding our award-winning pre-K program into some of our highest poverty areas. We are supporting the implementation of the critical Literacy and Numeracy Acts."
“We are, once again, increasing teacher pay, giving us even more of a competitive edge to recruit and retain the educators of today and tomorrow," she added. "We are investing in our two-year and four-year colleges. And thanks to the work of the Alabama Legislature, we continue making these wise investments while paying down debts, adding to our savings and returning the working people of Alabama’s money back to them through tax rebates. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Our students’ education is the single-most important issue facing our state, and Alabamians can rest assured that it will continue to be my top priority.”
The GF supplemental budget appropriated $207.6 million. The total GF budget is $3.1 billion.
The GF includes $5 million to the Montgomery County Commission for the Montgomery Whitewater Park project and $5 million to pay off the World Games 2022 deficit. The Mobile Port Authority received $5 million to relocate commercial airline operations to the Mobile Downtown Airport. The Port of Alabama received $20 million for "economic development and coal loading/unloading equipment.
“As I said in my State of State address, we can be proud of that fact that during my time as governor, we have not once used the word proration, nor have we spent beyond our means,” Ivey continued. “I am equally proud to announce today that with my signature on the 2024 General Fund that positive trend will continue. Alabama’s record-setting $3 billion General Fund is generational money which makes possible greater investments in vital public services while also significantly paying down debt to reduce the impact of future economic downturns. This landmark budget is historic for Alabama. It will positively affect many agency operations from State Troopers protecting our highways to mental health professionals. It expands support for their important missions while rewarding their hard work with a much-needed pay raise. This budget’s robust commitment to our citizens is equally matched by our legislators’ strong bipartisanship to swiftly deliver it to my desk. I am pleased to sign it into law.”
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