Gov. Robert Bentley on Thursday released details of cuts to government services if the General Fund Budget (HB1) passed by the Alabama House receives final passage by the Alabama Legislature. HB1 slashes the Medicaid Agency by $156 million and cuts other important agencies by approximately 5.5 percent of all state funds.

“Alabamians have been clear that drastic cuts to essential government services are not acceptable,” Bentley said. “From public safety to public health, there are serious consequences to failing to properly fund state government. Taxes fund the services that Alabamians want and expect. The House General Fund Budget is unacceptable, and I hope the Alabama Senate will take a strong leadership position to avoid passing this unworkable budget.”

Specific cuts to agencies other than Medicaid include:

 

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

Closure of all driver license offices except Mobile, Montgomery, and Birmingham

Close 13 Trooper Posts

Shut down the Agriculture and Rural Crime Unit

Layoff Aviation Staff and Fleet Management Staff

Layoff 1/3 of all non-sworn personnel

Layoff 75 of 431 Highway Patrol Troopers

Layoff 30 of 147 Special Agents

Layoff 8 of 31 Capitol Police Troopers

 

Department of Public Health

Close Coosa County Health Department

Reduction in Licensures and Certifications

Eliminate Nicotine Patch Purchases

Reduction in Disease Control Staff and Regionalization of County Operations

Reduction in Staff for Restaurant Health Inspections

Reduction in Area and State Support Staff

 

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Transfer to General Fund

Layoffs

Loss of Federal Funds for Marine Resources and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Closing of facilities, which could include several State Parks, Lands Division facilities, and Wildlife facilities. The size and scope is yet to be determined.

 

Department of Forensic Sciences

Closure of the Huntsville Morgue

Elimination of Fire Debris (Arson) Analysis

 

Department of Youth Services

Increase in approximately 700 new juvenile commitments due to loss of diversion grant

Layoff of personnel and closure of detention facilities

Juvenile commitment backlog will increase in the communities

 

Department of Agriculture and Industries

Closure of two diagnostic labs which test for deadly livestock diseases

Closure of the seed lab which will risk the purity and integrity of products for farmers

 

Department of Senior Services

Loss of $2.55M of Federal Funding (Federal 69%; State 31%)

Expanded waiting list beyond the current referral list of 7,100+

Increased costs by diverting clients from Medicaid Waiver program ($838 monthly) back into costly institutional care ($5,900 monthly)

 

Environmental Management Agency

Increase in abandoned waste landfills and tire dump sites

Increase in illegal dumps

Deferred or eliminated cleanup of petroleum releases into soil and groundwater

 

Department of Commerce

Eliminate some project recruitment efforts

 

Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

Eliminate the Alabama Rural Development Office

Eliminate the Small Business Office

Eliminate the Appalachian Regional Commission

Loss of Federal Funds for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Loss of Federal Funds for the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG)

 

Military Department

Closures of up to 11 Armories that can’t remain open without electricity (13% of Armories)

 

Department of Labor

Layoff two of seven positions (Will leave only five employees in Mine Safety Division)

Reduced and delayed mine safety inspections that prevent accidents and fatalities

Eliminate training contract with Bevill State College for mine rescue teams