Alabama House Passes $3.7B Budget, Boosts Retiree Payments

0:00Alabama's House of Representatives just greenlit the $3.7 billion General Fund budget for fiscal year 2027. Rapping up a big chunk of the state's spending plan. The Senate's lined up to handle the education trust fund sigh tomorrow, keeping the budget push moving fast in the final stretch of session. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter called it a win for smart spending, marking the 17th year straight that Republicans have kept things, conservative and taxpayer focused. They baked in a 2% cost of living boost for state employees, plus a one-time longevity bonus for retirees, $1 for every year, served while bumping debt payments by $13 million, including $10.4 million for prisons. With modest tweaks elsewhere, these budgets now head to the Senate for a vote, then to Governor Kay Ivey to seal the deal and steady Alabama's. Financial path ahead. This has been Birmingham News Today, powered by AI.