The Alabama Senate passed a proposed $3.72 billion fiscal 2027 General Fund budget on Tuesday, which includes a 2% raise for state employees and fully funds the expected increase in their health insurance costs.
The $3.72 billion spending bill is about $37.1 million more than what Gov. Kay Ivey sent to lawmakers two months ago and about $8.5 million more than the current year’s budget.
See a comparison of this year’s spending, Ivey’s proposal and what the Senate approved Tuesday HERE.
Several state agencies are experiencing slight increases in 2027, although some will see small decreases, including the Alabama Department of Mental Health, which will receive approximately $4 million less next year. Asked about that on the Senate floor, Sen. Greg Albritton, the Senate General Fund committee chairman, said the department’s other funding sources, including federal money, mean its services won’t be affected.
Lawmakers also had to find $10 million for the first payment due this fall for the Legislature’s new about $400 million State House.
Alabama Daily News reported on Wednesday the budget includes conditional appropriations for several agencies, assigning the departments of corrections, human resources and mental health tasks before they receive all of their 2027 funding.
Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, asked Albritton, about requiring the Alabama Department of Human Resources to get the error rate down in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The state risks having to spend more than $200 million on the program under the looming cost-sharing requirement that is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump last year.
“I’ve got full confidence that DHR can meet this goal,” Albritton said, citing that it already has one of the lowest error rates in the state, about 9%.
“We’ve got to get this down to maintain the services that we’ve got,” he said.
A rate below 6% does not require a state match.
The spending plan was approved 32-2 with one abstention. Sens. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, and David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, were the no votes. Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, abstained.
The spending package now goes to a House committee.
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...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM CDT FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, north winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts
up to 30 mph. For the Frost Advisory, temperatures as low as 36
will result in frost formation.
* WHERE...Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee,
Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Etowah, Fayette, Greene,
Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Perry, Pickens,
Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,
Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM CDT this evening. For the
Frost Advisory, from 1 AM to 10 AM CDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frost
could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants
may be killed if left uncovered.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
&&
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM CDT FRIDAY...
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, north winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts
up to 30 mph. For the Frost Advisory, temperatures as low as 36
will result in frost formation.
* WHERE...Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee,
Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Etowah, Fayette, Greene,
Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Perry, Pickens,
Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,
Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM CDT this evening. For the
Frost Advisory, from 1 AM to 10 AM CDT Friday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frost
could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants
may be killed if left uncovered.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
&&
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