Alabama Legislative Outlook, 2007
The big education issue this legislative session is shaping up to be school construction. Local school systems are generally responsible for their own new construction costs. Periodically, however, the state issues construction bonds and provides state money to local school systems. Prior to the opening of the legislative session on February 6th, Governor Bill Riley (R) proposed a $500 million bond issue that would be split between K-12 and higher education. State Senate President pro tem Hinton Mitchem (D) has proposed a $750 million bond. Some observers think the bond issue could go as high as $1 billiion. Unclear at this point is how the money will be doled out. Controversy is expected over how bond monies will be split between higher education and K-12. Riley has suggested giving each school system a flat amount plus an amount based on enrollment. High growth school systems and low-wealth districts with serious construction/renovation needs want more targeted distribution of the funds. Riley also proposes expanding the state’s distance learning program, ACCESS, in his Plan 2010.