General Fund Appropriations 2015
Alabama lawmakers are close to wrapping up a special session on the state budget.
The Alabama Senate will vote Wednesday on a general fund budget. The vote comes after legislators ended a stalemate on how to handle a budget shortfall.
Legislators approved a 25-cent-per-pack cigarette tax and agreed to shift $80 million in education dollars to shore up the general fund.
The money will avoid funding cuts to major state agencies including Medicaid, prisons, mental health services, the court system and the Department of Human Resources. However, other state agencies would see funding reductions.
Legislators are under pressure to get a budget approved by Oct. 1 or state agencies will be without money to operate. (Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
