PRESS RELEASE
Higher Education Partnership, P.O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Gordon Stone, Executive Director, 334/832-9911, Fax: 334/832-9995
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
With additional budget cuts on the horizon, education officials at every level, K-Graduate School, are aggressively calling for the state to identify new sources of revenue. Political leaders are finally starting to discuss the importance of changing the way Alabama funds education.
The announcement that the Education Trust Fund (ETF) cuts for 2001 will not progress beyond 6.2 percent is certainly not reason to celebrate, because the truth is the cuts are only being delayed until next year. The revenue is not flowing into the ETF in a manner that is sufficient to meet the budget projections for 2002. Combine that with the carry-over of more than $100 million in corporate income tax refunds, and it is easy to see that the funding outlook for 2002 is not good. More proration looms.
Given these circumstances, it is extremely important that the people of Alabama not be fooled by political, election-year games. Talk about solutions is not enough. The Higher Education Partnership and its 11,000+ faculty, staff, students, alumni and corporate members are urging all Alabamians to take a stand for public education. It is time for action!
The Legislative Special Session dialogue about positive, revenue-producing
change is certainly welcome. However, actions must follow! Alabama's
students in K-Graduate School, teachers at all levels and citizens
who seek an improved quality of life must demand action-oriented
leadership. Now is the time!