Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed the General Fund budget (SGF), the Education Trust Fund (ETF), and the PSCA bond bill.
“I appreciate the hard work of the Legislature during an unprecedented Regular Session,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement. “While we have yet to know the full impact of COVID-19 on our state, these budgets will ensure continuity of government, while being fiscally responsible. There is more work to be done, and I look forward to working with the Legislature in the days ahead.”
Despite the growing economic collapse as a result of the coronavirus crisis; both budgets were record amounts.
“This has been a unprecedented session due to the COVID-19 epidemic which imposed multiple obstacles for our elected officials to overcome,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan. “Our Republican leadership and governor managed to forge through passing both the General Fund and Education budgets to see our state through the next year.”
“While there was more belt tightening required than anticipated before the Coronavirus outbreak, Alabama’s economic situation is much better than many other states in the nation – in large part due to the fiscally responsible practices of our Republican supermajority since we gained control of the legislature in 2010,” Lathan continued. “We also are proud to highlight that no proration has occurred since the Alabama GOP takeover along with record breaking education budgets.”
“In fact, the 2021 General Fund Budget is $169 million larger than the previous year and includes funding increases for the Alabama Department of Public Health ($35 million), Alabama Medicaid Agency ($94 million), Alabama Department of Mental Health ($25 million), ALEA ($3 million, specifically for the hiring of additional State Troopers) and the Department of Corrections ($23 million),” Lathan explained. “Additionally, the Education Trust Fund is $91 million more than fiscal year 2020, and includes funding increases for our award winning early childhood education program and Alabama’s public institutions of higher learning (colleges, universities, and community colleges).”
Both Houses of the legislature voted to concur with the Governor’s executive amendment to SB161 a 2020 supplemental appropriations bill directing how $1.9 billion in federal CARES Act money can be spent.
I commend the Alabama Legislature for their cooperation by supporting my Executive Amendment to SB161. This friendly amendment ensures the CARES Act money will be immediately available to the people of Alabama and put to use under the intent of the U.S. Congress and President Trump. Our cities, counties and state, as well as places like our nursing homes, hospitals, schools and colleges have incurred many legitimate expenses because of COVID-19. I thank the members of the Alabama Legislature for supporting this amendment and for ensuring this money helps the people of Alabama who have been harmed by this disease. While no one could have predicted COVID-19, it is easy to conclude this pandemic has touched every aspect of our daily lives. I assure the people of Alabama that we will be with them at every step moving forward. Together, we will recover, and we will get Alabama back on her feet.”
The coronavirus global pandemic hangs over everything moving forward. Will there be federal aid to make up for lost state revenues? How much will that aid be? When can schools reopen? Will this winter see a resurgence in COVID-19 cases?
“We are confident Alabama will continue to grow its economy – even beyond what we experienced prior to the pandemic,” Lathan said. “Thanks to hard working, determined Alabamians combined with the sound conservative principles our Republican officials use to guide our state. In the end, we are grateful the Republican legislative body and Governor Ivey came together as a team to get the record breaking budgets up and out to Alabama, even with heavy burdens and concerns lingering due to COVID-19 in these unparalleled times.”
Monday was the last day of the 2020 Legislative Session.
