May 19, 2013
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama state non-education employees would not get a cost-of-living raise or merit pay raises under a $1.74 billion General Fund budget approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee.
The budget for 2013-14 is mostly level with the budget for the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. It is just a slight increase from the budget recommended by Gov. Robert Bentley.
The chairman of the committee, Republican Sen. Arthur Orr of Decatur, said the economy is improving but there is still a shortage of tax revenue for the General Fund budget. Most growth taxes, such as sales and income taxes, are earmarked for education.
The director of the State Employees Association, Mac McArthur, said state employees have not had a raise since 2008.
AP-WF-03-06-13 1806GMT
