Alabama faces a budget gap of $265 million. Not good, but not awful, Perhaps manageable, if managerial/legislative flexibility were available.
Alas, right now it’s not available. But it should be. And if such flexibility were indeed available, there would be less pressure to raise taxes.
I explained it for al.com in what could be the most important column I write all year, in terms of having the potential to create a direct, practical, beneficial effect on Alabama policy with very few complications.
All it takes is a simple state constitutional amendment. Here is my proposed wording:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution – with the exception of revenue dedicated to the Alabama Trust Fund, which this amendment shall leave sacrosanct – lawmakers may, through regular legislative order, shift up to 10 percent of any fiscal year’s state revenue from any one dedicated account to any other. Furthermore, with a vote of at least two thirds of both the state House and Senate and the governor’s concurrence, an additional 10 percent of revenue may be shifted among accounts.
Again, read the full column here.
