Governor Bentley Details Legislative Budget Cuts to Cullman County

17307138932_93bf4f9420_k

CULLMAN—Governor Robert Bentley on Monday met with members of the Cullman County Chamber of Commerce to discuss the current budget crisis in the General Fund and the impact to Cullman County if the Legislature’s severe cuts are enacted.

“We are facing a tremendous crisis in our General Fund Budget that will impact every Alabama County if not addressed by the Alabama Legislature,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I am committed to finding new revenue so our state agencies can continue to provide essential services to Alabamians. For decades, we have failed to address the way our non-education state agencies are funded.  With no one-time money available to support the General Fund and debts that are owed, we have a real crisis on our hands. I encourage the residents of Cullman County to let their elected representatives know that these cuts will hurt the people in in Cullman County.”

The Alabama Legislature is considering a proposal that deeply cuts funding for state services. Each state agency was created by law to provide specific services to taxpayers.  If enacted, these cuts will put the state in a position incapable of providing many of the essential services of government.

The specific cuts to Cullman County include:

  • The cut to the Department of Veterans Affairs would prevent a veterans service officer from being hired in Cullman County to help veterans
  • 35 Cullman County Seniors would lose waiver funding that allows them to receive assistance at home and not in an institutional setting. Over 1,600 hours of in-home services are projected to be lost (companion, homemaker, personal care and unskilled respite)
  • Over 1,000 meals for Cullman County Seniors (breakfast and dinner) will be lost
  • Over $300,000 in funding for Cullman County Community Corrections would be lost, sending inmates back into an overcrowded prison system
  • Approximately 221 children in Cullman County will lose temporary assistance from the Department of Human Resources
  • The Cullman County Court System would experience the layoff of 3 Juvenile Probation Officers and 9 Court Specialists on the Circuit Clerk’s Staff
  • The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) renews approximately 10,000 water permits every 5 years. Cullman County has 190 water current permits. Under the Legislature’s proposal, the Environmental Protection Agency is highly likely to take over ADEM and a delay in renewing water permits is highly likely.
  • Over 5,000 people statewide currently receive assistance for intellectual disabilities in their community. Over 1,000 people statewide would be eliminated from receiving assistance for intellectual disabilities. Over 50 receive assistance in Cullman County, and almost 40 are on the waiting list.

In February, Governor Bentley presented his budget plan with additional revenue for the General Fund that would avoid the devastating cuts. Governor Bentley’s budget solution includes additional revenue in the form of fair taxes and will cover the revenue shortfall  in the General Fund and pay off millions of dollars in debt the state owes. Details on the Governor’s revenue package can be found  here.

“Now is the time for real solutions to address our budget challenges.  I was elected to solve problems, and I urge members of the Legislature to work with me to put this state on a successful path forward.  By working together, we can make Alabama better for future generations,” Bentley added.

 

###