Bentley Brandishes Axe

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday said continuing revenue shortfalls will force him to make across-the-board cuts in the two spending plans that comprise the state budget — the Education Trust Fund and the general fund.

Bentley, a Republican, said he will cut the education budget by 3% and slash the general fund budget by 15% after ­working with the Legislature for supplemental appropriations to protect priority agencies that provide necessary and critical services.

After an analysis by the state Department of Finance and the Department of Revenue, Bentley said the education budget is projected to have a $165 million shortfall while the general fund is projected to have a $110 million deficit.

“Both our Education Trust Fund and our state’s general fund budgets are based on unreliable revenue projections,” Bentley said. “Five months into the 2011 fiscal year it is clear that there is not enough revenue to sustain either budget.”

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