Alabama educators fear more budget cuts

By: The Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: August 24, 2010

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Some Alabama leaders are anticipating more education spending cuts because of the Gulf oil spill's damage to state tax revenues and a state economy that hasn't recovered from the recession as quickly as anticipated.

Gov. Bob Riley is hopeful of getting through the end of the current budget year Sept. 30 without increasing the 7.5 percent cut that public education has already endured. That cut has put a crimp on buying supplies, making repairs and filling vacancies.

But some school superintendents say they wouldn't be surprised by additional cuts in the closing weeks of the fiscal year.

Riley says the status of the new education budget starting Oct. 1 depends, in part, on payment of the $148 million claim the state has filed with BP. Some school officials say they anticipate cuts could be 1 percent to 5 percent.