4/27/10-The Legislature has given the go-ahead to put before voters a question about spending $1 billion on road and bridge projects throughout the state.
The House voted 86-13 to agree on changes to the bill, which would reroute money from a state savings account for roads and bridges. Senators followed suit on a 25-8 vote. Because it is a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution, voters will get the final say on the general election ballot Nov. 2.
SB121 seeks to remove $100 million annually for 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund. The fund has about $2.6 billion accumulated from natural gas wells drilled in state-owned waters along the Alabama coast..
The state would divide $25 million annually among its 67 counties and their cities for road and bridge work. Another $75 million each year would be routed to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The current balance of the trust fund is $2.5 billion. A provision in the bill calls for annual withdrawals to end if the balance dipped below $2 billion.

4/7/10-A bill in the House Government Appropriations Committee would reroute money from a state savings account for roads and bridges. Because it is a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution, voters would get the final say as early as this November. The Senate has already approved it.
SB121 would remove $100 million annually for 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund. The fund has about $2.6 billion accumulated from natural gas wells drilled in state-owned waters along the Alabama coast.
The state would divide $25 million annually among its 67 counties and their cities for road and bridge work. Another $75 million each year would be routed to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The current balance of the trust fund is $2.5 billion. A provision added to the bill calls for annual withdrawals to end if the balance dipped below $2 billion.
For bill status, call 334-242-7800. In Alabama, call 800-499-3051.

3/12/10-The Senate voted 25-10 Thursday, March 11, to forward a bill to the House that would reroute money from a state savings account for roads and bridges. Because it is a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution, voters would get the final say as early as this November.
SB121 would remove $100 million annually for 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund. The fund has about $2.6 billion accumulated from natural gas wells drilled in state-owned waters along the Alabama coast.
The state would divide $25 million annually among its 67 counties and their cities for road and bridge work. Another $75 million each year would be routed to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
The current balance of the trust fund is $2.5 billion. A provision added to the bill calls for annual withdrawals to end if the balance dipped below $2 billion.
For bill status, call 334-242-7800. In Alabama, call 800-499-3051.

1/25/10-The Senate Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee has forwarded a bill to the full Senate that would reroute money from a state savings account for roads and bridges throughout the state.
Sponsored by Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, SB121 would remove $100 million annually for 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund. The fund has about $2.6 billion accumulated from natural gas wells drilled in state-owned waters along the Alabama coast.
The state would divide $25 million annually among its 67 counties and their cities for road and bridge work. Another $75 million each year would be routed to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
To become law, voters would have to sign off on it Nov. 2. If approved, the money would be allocated in 2011.
For Senate bill status, call 334-242-7800. In Alabama, call 800-499-3051.