By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The state school board voted Thursday to request a 370 million dollar budget increase for public schools in fiscal year 2007. More than a third of the increase would cover the rising cost of benefits for school employees. State Superintendent Joe Morton says he knows it's an expensive request, but he says increases in tax revenues have created a budget surplus that allows for more spending on education programs. Morton told the board he thinks the budget is possible. The K-through-12 budget for fiscal 2006, which began October 1st, is three-point-five billion dollars.