Senate OKs General Fund budget with no pay raises, modest increase for prisons

The fiscal 2021 budget, which pays for non-education state agencies and services, contains $167 million more than the current fiscal year, but less than the record levels projected before the coronavirus outbreak impacted the state's economy.

"This one was a bit of a monster," Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, said during discussion on the Senate floor. He chairs the Senate General Fund budget committee.

"We are not accustomed to having to come in and take out portions of the budget mid-session, but I think it could have been far worse, and I appreciate the members of this body for contributing to this General Fund budget."

Two months ago, lawmakers thought they would be approving the biggest General Fund and education budgets in the state’s history. The outbreak and resulting economic slowdown have created uncertainty for budget writers.

The budget and its accompanying supplemental bills passed 31-0 and now go to the House of Representatives.

Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, told Albritton he appreciated Democrats having input in the budget process in the Republican-dominated Senate.

"This is a budget for all the people," Singleton said. "In as much as we are a small minority on this side, you could do this without us. But I appreciate your openness in seeing all of us as one body and not just as Republicans and Democrats."

Senators amended the budget to remove proposed language creating a panel of Gov. Kay Ivey and two lawmakers to decide how to spend the state’s federal coronavirus relief funds. Albritton said no such law is needed because coronavirus-related fund expenditures, including those coming from the federal government, must be approved by the Legislature, per the state constitution.

“Like any other money, this is going to have to come through the normal appropriation methods, as per the constitution,” Albritton said.

Because the money needs to be allocated this year and next, he said, it will likely be taken up in a special session later this year.

A supplemental budget bill made an exception for $100 million, which Albritton said accounts for federal relief funds already spent so far by the state. That bill also explicitly gives the Legislature purview over any future state relief funds approved by Congress.

The state has received more than $1.7 billion from the federal government from the CARES Act relief package passed by Congress in March. According to the Treasury Department, the funds must be spent on outbreak-related expenses and cannot go to replace lost revenue.

A spokeswoman for Ivey said the governor's office worked with legislative leaders on these budget matters "and will continue to do so until they are passed."

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Rolling reserve

In addition to the budget itself, the Senate passed a bill from Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, that would establish a General Fund "rolling reserve" fund to help avoid future shortfalls by not allowing over-spending in years of plenty. The Education Trust Fund has had a "rolling reserve" account since 2011, which many credit with helping state schools avoid mid-year spending cuts known as proration.

Senate Bill 129, the General Fund Reserve Fund, passed the Senate 31-0 and now goes to the House.

North Alabama lawmakers were unanimous in their support of the budget.

Sen. Tom Butler, R-Madison, called the budget “cautious.” He said a special session in September or October is likely, once more is known about state revenues, especially the income tax and consumer-related taxes, including sales tax, when the state is fully reopened.

“I feel pretty good about what we passed, knowing we’ll probably be back later in the year,” said Butler, whose district includes a portion of Limestone County.

Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, who represents a portion of Lawrence County, said he felt "comfortable" with the budget and is particularly pleased to see the rolling reserve fund passed.