Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Senate has approved a state General Fund budget that will maintain Medicaid services and the Children's Health Insurance Program in the new fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
The Senate voted 25-7 Tuesday for the budget, which now returns to the House for additional review.
The nearly $1.6 billion budget compares with about $1.5 billion that state agencies expect to spend in the current budget.
Senate budget committee Chairman Roger Bedford said $195 million in federal stimulus funds helped maintain health services and balance the budget.
Bedford said some offices are being cut and may have layoffs after the new budget takes effect in the fall.
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