The Alabama Senate General Fund committee on Wednesday approved fiscal 2025 General Fund and 2024 supplemental spending plans that included more money — and allocated more for prison construction — than what Gov. Kay Ivey proposed two months ago.
The $3.3 billion General Fund, about $65 million more than Ivey’s February proposal, as well as an about $210 million supplemental spending plan for the current year were approved with little discussion.
But four Republican senators abstained on the General Fund vote, some indicating they wanted to talk with committee chairman and bill sponsor Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, privately.
About the General Fund substitute bill, Albritton said there were few changes from what Ivey sent lawmakers two months ago.
The substitute:
- More than doubles to $50 million the allocation to debt service for the prison construction bond approved to help fund two new prisons. Any of that money not needed for debt repayment in 2025 could be used elsewhere on the prison building plans.
- Adds $9.4 million for the Alabama Department of Mental Health and adds an $18.2 million line item for staff funding at Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility in Tuscaloosa. Staffing shortages at the facility led to a settlement agreement last year, Alabama Daily News previously reported.
- Eliminates $5 million for an electric vehicle infrastructure grant program;
- Cuts a proposed $16.3 million increase for the Alabama Department of Human Resources by $6 million.
There were some line item swaps between the General Fund and supplement bills, including $2 million for the state Military Department for armories and Taylor Hardin funding now in the General Fund.
Albritton’s version of the supplemental plan — money that can be spent this fiscal year — is also more than what Ivey proposed.
The substitute proposal increases prison construction funding from $100 million to $150 million.
The State Industrial Development Authority would get $15 for site development under Albritton’s plan; less than the $25 million Ivey proposed.
Albritton also added $5 million for the Alabama Port Authority and pier repairs.
As in Ivey’s original proposal, there is $20 million for a new State House parking deck.
Nixed from Ivey’s proposal is $5 million to repair or replace the rocket at the Ardmore Welcome Center off of I-65.
Republican Sens. Chris Elliot, Josephine; Sam Givhan, Huntsville, Andrew Jones, Centre; and April Weaver, Brierfield, were the abstentions.
Givhan said his vote was professional, not political. The committee received the substitute bill on Tuesday afternoon and Givhan, an attorney whose firm has several large clients, said he didn’t have time to read it to make sure none were beneficiaries in the bill and he didn’t have a conflict of interest.
“I didn’t want to inadvertently go along to get along and then get in trouble,” he said.
Similarly, Elliott said he didn’t have time to read the substitute bill before the Wednesday morning committee meeting.
“I understand that we have to move along with the budgets, but sitting on the General Fund budget committee should mean something and I want to look through the budget,” Elliott told ADN after the vote. “There are specific requests that have been made in the budget and I’ve not had an opportunity to confirm whether those requests were considered and honored. So I’m going to take my time and do that.”
The committee also approved a 2% cost of living increase for state employees in 2025. The increase will cost state agencies about $54.5 million in fiscal year 2025.
The bills now move to the full Senate.