(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley says he wants to cut the state's budget by 25 percent. That was the financial proposal he laid out in his annual State of the State address.
He says even though budget cuts are planned, that does not mean public safety is at risk.
"In the budget I'm recommending, we will not cut one penny from the Department of Corrections," Bentley said. "Not one prisoner will be set free due to lack of funds."
Bentley also talked about job creation in the state. He says since he took office, 41,000 more Alabamians are now working.
"In the last four months, Alabama's unemployment rate has dropped faster than any other state in the nation," Bentley said. "We've done this despite facing tough competition from other states with limited ability to offer incentives to businesses."
The governor also talked about his plan to improve education, which he says starts with giving more power on the local level.
The governor did not talk about the state's controversial immigration law during the speech.
