Politics Alabama
State Budget Facts
This page was last updated: 31 May, 2012
Budget information:
The State of Alabama stores budget information online dating back to 1997. Below are links for the different budgetary information available for download. The change amounts are given both in millions of dollars and in a percentage change. This chart makes it easy to track budget changes over time, and more detailed information on appropriations can be obtained by clicking on the links. Because the links to the actual source documents published by the state are included on this page, the total figures provided here can be easily verified for accuracy.
NOTE: I sent in a query about when the 2013 budget data would be available online, and got a puzzling reply. The upshot was that it will not be posted until January 2013, and until then all we can look at online is the proposed and requested budgets. I found that strange, to say the least. Oh, they recommended I look at the original budget documents that passed the Legisalture, and I will certainly do that. If the format isn't user-friendly, however, we may just have to wait.
State General Fund Total Expenditures 1-Year Change Change Since 1997
FY1997 Appropriations $6,089,254,763
FY1998 Appropriations $7,662,128,455 + $1,572 (+25.8%) + $ 1,572 (+25.8%)
FY1999 Appropriations $6,634,136,980 - $1,027 (-13.5%) + $ 544 (+ 8.9%)
FY2000 Appropriations $7,140,227,569 + $ 506 (+ 7.6%) + $ 1,050 (+17.2%)
FY2001 Appropriations $7,775,941,806 + $ 635 (+ 8.9%) + $ 1,686 (+27.6%)
FY2002 Appropriations $8,622,842,309 + $ 846 (+10.9%) + $ 2,533 (+41.6%)
FY2003 Appropriations $9,534,203,748 + $ 911 (+10.5%) + $ 3,444 (+56.5%)
FY2004 Appropriations $9,673,922,243 + $ 139 (+ 1.4%) + $ 3,584 (+58.8%)
FY2005 Appropriations $10,026,782,178 + $ 352 (+ 3.6%) + $ 3,934 (+64.6%)
FY2006 Appropriations $11,204,986,055 + $1,178 (+11.8%) + $ 5,115 (+84.0%)
FY2007 Appropriations $10,986,403,351 - $ 218 (- 1.9%) + $ 4,897 (+80.4%)
FY2008 Appropriations $11,353,655,734 + $ 367 (+ 3.4%) + $ 5,093 (+86.5%)
FY2009 Appropriations $11,821,866,579 + $ 486 (+ 4.1%) + $ 5,732 (+94.1%)
FY2010 Appropriations $13,120,286,438 + $1,298 (+10.9%) + $ 7,030 (+115.5%)
FY2011 Appropriations $13,869,432,452 + $ 749 (+ 5.7%) + $ 7,779 (+127.7%)
FY2012 Appropriations $13,987,492,807 + $ 118 (+ 0.8%) + $ 7,897 (+129.7%) Average yearly growth: $ 527 million (6.00%)
Education Trust Fund Total Expenditures 1-Year Change Change Since 1997
FY1997 Appropriations $6,289,663,463
FY1998 Appropriations $6,492,520,638 + $ 202 (+ 3.2%) + $ 202 (+ 3.2%)
FY1999 Appropriations $6,874,726,313 + $ 382 (+ 5.8%) + $ 585 (+ 9.3%)
FY2000 Appropriations $7,358,617,343 + $ 483 (+ 7.0%) + $ 1,068 (+16.9%)
FY2001 Appropriations $7,537,441,009 + $ 178 (+ 2.4%) + $ 1,247 (+19.8%)
FY2002 Appropriations $7,793,977,082 + $ 256 (+ 3.4%) + $ 1,504 (+23.9%)
FY2003 Appropriations $8,336,678,384 + $ 542 (+ 6.9%) + $ 2,047 (+32.5%)
FY2004 Appropriations $8,907,282,531 + $ 570 (+ 6.8%) + $ 2,617 (+41.6%)
FY2005 Appropriations $9,380,415,860 + $ 473 (+ 5.3%) + $ 3,090 (+49.1%)
FY2006 Appropriations $10,491,413,118 + $1,111 (+11.8%) + $ 4,201 (+66.8%)
FY2007 Appropriations $11,776,227,885 + $1,285 (+12.2%) + $ 5,486 (+87.2%)
FY2008 Appropriations $12,599,652,014 + $ 823 (+ 6.9%) + $ 6,309(+100.3%)
FY2009 Appropriations $12,617,830,974 + $ 18 (+ 0.1%) + $ 6,328(+100.6%)
FY2010 Appropriations $12,475,452,809 - $ 142 (- 1.1%) + $ 6,168( +98.3%) FY2011 Appropriations $12,750,376,340 + $ 275 (+ 2.2%) + $ 6,443(+102.7%) FY2012 Appropriations $13,182,382,219 + $ 432 (+ 3.4%) + $ 6,875(+109.6%) Average yearly growth: $460 million (5.08%)
Total State Budget Total Expenditures 1-Year Change Change Since 1997
FY1997 Appropriations $12,378,918,226
FY1998 Appropriations $14,154,649,093 + $1,775 (+14.3%) + $ 1,775 (+14.3%)
FY1999 Appropriations $13,508,863,293 - $ 645 (- 4.5%) + $ 1,129 (+ 9.1%)
FY2000 Appropriations $14,498,844,912 + $ 989 (+ 7.3%) + $ 2,119 (+17.1%)
FY2001 Appropriations $15,313,382,815 + $ 814 (+ 5.6%) + $ 2,934 (+23.7%)
FY2002 Appropriations $16,416,819,391 + $1,103 (+ 7.2%) + $ 4,037 (+32.6%)
FY2003 Appropriations $17,870,882,132 + $1,454 (+ 8.8%) + $ 5,491 (+44.3%)
FY2004 Appropriations $18,581,204,774 + $ 710 (+ 3.9%) + $ 6,202 (+50.1%)
FY2005 Appropriations $19,407,198,038 + $ 825 (+ 4.4%) + $ 7,028 (+56.7%)
FY2006 Appropriations $21,696,399,173 + $2,289 (+11.8%) + $ 9,317 (+75.2%)
FY2007 Appropriations $22,762,631,236 + $1,066 (+ 4.9%) + $10,384 (+83.9%)
FY2008 Appropriations $23,953,307,748 + $1,190 (+ 5.2%) + $11,574 (+93.5%)
FY2009 Appropriations $24,439,697,553 + $ 486 (+ 2.0%) + $12,061 (+97.4%)
FY2010 Appropriations $25,595,739,147 + $1,156 (+ 4.7%) + $13,217 (+106.8%)
FY2011 Appropriations $26,619,808,792 + $1,024 (+ 3.8%) + $14,241 (+115.0%)
FY2012 Appropriations $27,169,875,026 + $ 550 (+ 2.1%) + $14,791 (+119.5%)
Average yearly growth: $986 million (5.43%)
Analysis
In 2012, overall budget growth was a relatively anemic 2.1%, compared to the 15-year average of almost 5.5%. The GF saw only very modest increases, but the ETF grew by more than $400 million. But the current economic climate makes these spending increases indefensible, and also makes proration much more likley. But even though Alabama has seen proration more than once since 1997, overall spending actually decreased only once, in the FY1999 budget. In every other year, spending has increased steadily over the years. Since 1997, the Alabama State Budget has increased by an average of $986 MILLION per year, for an average spending increase of 5.43% per year.
As can be easily seen by looking at the figures, and despite almost continuous complaints about insufficient funds, the Alabama State government has managed to steadily increase it's spending rates over the years. In FY2005, the Governor and the Legislature claimed that they "slashed spending" to bring the cost of government under control, but the budget numbers do not reflect that. Calls for tax increases can and do ring hollow when it is clear that the State Budget is growing at such a rate without them. Currently we are told that we have a $100 million or so "shortfall" that is needed to balance the budget... before accepting such claims, make sure you see the numbers.
Additional Information
In recent years, the budget office has taken to publishing agency by agency budget details. These details can be obtained by following these links:
