MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Senate worked into the night to pass the budget to operate the state's non-education agencies.
The Senate voted 22-9 Tuesday night to approve the General Fund budget and send it to the House for further consideration.
Budget committee Chairman Arthur Orr said the $1.7 billion budget follows most of the recommendations that Gov. Robert Bentley made when the legislative session began five weeks ago.
The budget does not include a cost-of-living raise for state workers, but it does encourage the governor to lift a freeze on merit raises. The budget requires most state agencies to get by next year on the same amount they are getting this year. Corrections and courts would get increases.
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3/12/2013 7:28:33 PM (GMT -5:00)
