State amendments key part of general election
By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The immediate future of educational funding in the state is tied closely to the outcome of constitutional amendments in next Tuesday’s general election
While most of the six amendments apply directly to various counties and municipalities within the state, Amendment One is an exception.
It provides for an expansion of the state’s “rainy day fund” for education by appealing a 2002 amendment that allows the state to borrow money from gas and oil revenues in times of economic emergency. The oil and gas fund currently stands at $3.3 billion.
The 2002 amendment placed a cap on how much the legislature can borrow at $284 million. If Amendment One is approved, that amount could rise to $440 million or about 6.5 percent of the entire state education budget. The amendment also requires the state government to pay back the amount borrowed within six years.
Education officials say if the amendment is not approved, it is almost certain that proration will be declared and devastating across-the-board spending cuts will be made, affecting the entire state school system in 2008-09.
According to Mary Jane Caylor, a member of the State Board of Education, deep education cuts can be expected if voters don’t pass the amendment. She listed as potential casualties the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, the Alabama Reading Initiative and Distance Learning Program.
The other five amendments on the ballot are described briefly as follows:
