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On Thursday, the Senate approved a proposed General Fund Budget that appropriates over $3.7 billion for fiscal year 2025.
The proposed budget is the largest in the state’s history. Last year’s General Fund Budget totaled over $3.1 billion.
Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, Chairman of the General Fund Budget Committee spoke to reporters following the passage of the general fund budget. Albritton told reporters that Alabama has seen substantial growth in it’s budget and due to having an excess of funds he believes it is beneficial to use those funds.
“We’ve gone from being broke every year to the point we have excess funds,” Albritton said. “And we are capable of exercising control over spending that.”
The budget also contains a 2 percent cost of living adjustment increase for state employees. This would begin on Oct. 1, 2024, the beginning of the 2025 fiscal year. Albritton said this provision was important because the funding was there and may help with retention.
“We have the funding there and we need to share that with the folks and we need to keep our employees,” Albritton said.
The passage of the budget also included a supplemental package that funded several projects.
- $500,000 to the Legislative Services Agency to identify modern practices to recruit and retain state employees.
- $20,000,00 to the Legislative Council to construct a parking deck at the new State House.
- $150,000,000 to the Alabama Department of Corrections for prison construction.
- $4,833,000 to the State Law Enforcement Agency for in car cameras, body cameras, handheld radios and related expenses.
- $15,000,000 to the State Industrial Development Authority for site development.
- $5,000,000 to the Department of Veterans’ affairs to assist with two locations.
The bill now moves to the House.
