Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Legislature has given final approval to a $2.5 billion budget to fund non-education services.
The Senate voted 19-10 to pass the General Fund budget and send it to Gov. Bob Riley for his review. The House earlier approved it on a 55-38 vote after some members complained that the Senate had cut funding for corrections and other agencies while adding funding for special projects.
The Senate originally cut $9 million from corrections, but a House-Senate conference committee gave $3 million back to prisons. The conference committee placed $6.5 million in community service grants that House members can use for projects in their districts.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)