Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's budgets would increase education funding

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

photo Alabama Governor Robert Bentley delivers his State of the State address in the Historic Old House Chamber in the Capitol building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Gov. Robert Bentley is proposing state budgets that would require most state agencies to get by next year with about the same amount they are receiving this year.

Bentley's proposals include increases for all levels of public education.

Bentley's office released his recommended budgets Tuesday, which is the second day of the Legislature's 2014 session.

Bentley's state General Fund budget for the next fiscal year would spend $1.8 billion. The biggest increase is $70 million is for Medicaid. Courts would get a small increase.

Bentley's education budget is nearly $6 billion. K-12 schools would get a 4 percent increase, two-year schools 3 percent more and universities 1 percent more.