Governor Bentley Issues Statement On Trust Fund Passage

"I want to thank the voters for approving the state's plan to temporarily borrow funds from our savings account to help get us through these difficult economic times without raising taxes.  Once again, I pledge to the people of this state that the funds transferred to help support critical state services will be paid back.

"In the first 20 months of this Administration, we have passed laws and taken executive action that will save the state $675 million annually.  We will continue our efforts to increase efficiency and reduce government spending.  My goal is to identify a billion dollars in savings by the end of my first term, and that goal is well within reach.  Since taking office, we have helped create more than 26,000 new jobs for people in communities across Alabama, and we will aggressively continue our job creation efforts.

"Despite these savings and despite these new jobs, the General Fund still needs this temporary funding bridge from the Alabama Trust Fund to maintain essential services as we continue to streamline and right-size government.  We have also identified stronger sources of revenue for the General Fund without raising taxes.  Through these combined measures, we will put our state in a stronger financial position for the future."