Montgomery, AL – Two state agencies have made massive budget requests for the next fiscal year that could devour more than 70 percent of money available for all non-education state services.
Acting Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas asked legislative budget committees Tuesday for almost $419 million in state money for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. That's a more than $70 million increase from this year's budget.
Earlier Tuesday Medicaid Commissioner Bob Mullins told budget committees the agency needs $700 million for the coming fiscal year. That's twice what the agency received for the current year.
Mullins said the increased funding is needed to offset the loss of stimulus money, an expected increase in Medicaid patients and a reduction in how much money the federal government puts up to match state funds.
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