Staff Report
Alabama’s General Fund budget is in sad shape, but not because so much money is earmarked for education. The General Fund is suffering because there is not enough recession-resistant revenue available for the courts, state troopers, prisons, Medicaid and the other non-education services the state provides.
As noted recently, Gov. Robert Bentley is considering asking the state Legislature to un-earmark money designated for education and shift it to the General Fund.
We repeat: this is a bad idea.
Yes, this state earmarks more money than other states, primarily because residents do not trust legislators to spend the money in a fair fashion.
Bentley’s plan for un-earmarking education money is a prime example of why Alabama has earmarking in the first place.
