By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Alabama law says the state must pay its employees the same reimbursement rate as federal employees. Rising gas prices have caused the federal government to raise the reimbursement rate from 40-point-five cents per mile to 48-point-five cents per mile. The executive director of the Alabama State Employees Association -- Mac McArthur -- says state workers would be paying for gas out of their own pockets if the state didn't raise its reimbursement rate.