Some Alabama lawmakers concerned over Senate budget cuts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — The General Fund passed with changes out of a Senate committee this, and some Alabama leaders have concerns.

Senators cut money earmarked for broadband expansion, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and other line items. Some said the money will be put back in the budget, while others are stressing the importance of certain funding.

Senators removed $3 million from a Broadband Accessibility Grant Program. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said there are still federal dollars the state can use on broadband projects.

“We’ve put a ton of money into broadband. And to be honest, we’ve got some money for broadband in the ETF. It’s not like that we’re not continuing to fund it, it’s just we’re seeing where we’re at and what direction we’re going in,” said Ledbetter.

But Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said every dollar counts.

“We’ve got children living in those communities where they’ve got no availability to do coursework, research work- to do studies and everything,” he said. “To give them that extra… to have that tool available.”

House budget chairman, Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), said those tools are not off the table.

Reynolds said he’s confident the money for broadband will be put back into the budget when it hits the Senate floor on Tuesday.

“I think there is some conversation that the chairman may entertain an amendment on the Senate floor to bring that back in,” Reynolds said. “That’s critical funding for ADECA to support what we do in Alabama’s broadband.”

Almost $4 million in funding was also removed from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Both chambers are getting back to ‘prioritized budgeting’, according to Reynolds. He said this is because interest rates are going down on money made by the state.

“Number one thing we’ve gotta do is fund our agencies,” he said. “And the needs that they have, because they serve all Alabamians. And then, these kind of ‘one-offs,’ we gotta take them on a case-by-case basis.”

Reynolds said he and Senate budget chairman, Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), are in close contact about funding changes. Lawmakers have five legislative days left to get the education and general fund budgets passed.