By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – An Associated Press survey of the Alabama Legislature finds overwhelming support for a bond issue for school construction projects. The debate is simply over how big to make it.
Governor Bob Riley said he will propose a bond issue of at least 500 (m) million dollars to pay for construction and technology projects in public schools and colleges.
In a survey of the Legislature, 19 percent of the House and 20 percent of the Senate said they would support the governor. But the majority - 44 percent of the House and 61 percent of the Senate - favor more than 500 (m) million.
The remaining were largely undecided with a few opposed to a bond issue or favoring a smaller size.
The State Board of Education is pushing for one (b) billion dollars. State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton said Alabama's public schools have more than four (b) billion dollars in building needs. And that doesn't count the needs of two-year and four-year colleges.
The Legislature approved the state's last education bond issue in 1998.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)