By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – He told legislators he has seen schools where bricks are falling off buildings. The governor spoke Wednesday to a joint meeting of the House and Senate education budget writing committees. Riley says the state can afford to spend the money now on school construction and improvements because of economic growth over the last several years. Several lawmakers expressed concerns about the way the money for school improvements is to be distributed. Riley's plan would distribute the money among Alabama's school systems based on number of students in each district.