Montgomery, AL – Higher education in Alabama is seeking a 10 percent budget increase and K-12 schools are seeking more than 5 percent at a time when the Legislature expects to have less to spend on education.
The executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Gregory Fitch, recommended to legislative budget committees Thursday that they provide nearly $1.6 billion for Alabama's two-year and four-year colleges next year. That's up from $1.46 billion this year.
State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton sought an increase for K-12 schools from $3.6 billion this year to nearly $3.8 billion next year. But he acknowledged that's not likely.
Legislators wrapped up budget hearings Thursday. They will return to Montgomery on March 1 to begin work on the budgets.
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