Alabama

Alabama finance leaders say 'sugar high is over' for state budgets • Alabama Reflector

Published

11 months ago

February 5, 2025

Alabama finance leaders say 'sugar high is over' for state budgets • Alabama Reflector

Alabama finance officials said Wednesday that the state’s “sugar high is over” as they predicted uncertainty around the economy in the coming years.

Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, officials said growth in the General Fund and the Education Trust Fund (ETF) are declining from double-digit growth it has seen over the last couple of years, due to the loss of federal COVID relief funds and uncertainty about a General Fund revenue source dependent on higher interest rates.

“In a span of three years, you went from a revenue source that wasn’t even on a pie chart in terms of its percentage contribution to the total General Fund to it’s now the second largest revenue source, and it’s not a reliable revenue source,” said Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency.

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Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6% in the 3rd quarter of 2023, higher than all but Arkansas, and personal income increased by 5%.

The General Fund’s revenue grew about $226 million year over year, largely driven by a $150 million increase in interest on state deposits, Fulford said.

The ETF, which gets most of its revenue from state income and sales taxes, is expected to grow 1.82% in fiscal year 2026. The current 2025 budget was about 6% higher than the prior year’s budget.

Alabama State Finance Director Bill Poole outlines Gov. Kay Ivey’s 2026 budget priorities during a presentation to Alabama lawmakers on Feb. 5, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

State Finance Director Bill Poole, who said “ditto on virtually everything” to Fulford’s remarks, cautioned lawmakers to budget conservatively.

“Be cautious, particularly in periods of uncertainty and clearly in kind of a transformative transition period in national and state economy,” Poole said.

Gov. Kay Ivey will request a $3.7 billion General Fund budget, about $400 million (12.1% increase) higher than the current budget, and a $9.9 billion ETF, about $560 million (6% increase) higher than the current ETF. The budget prioritizes education, public safety and workforce development. Key proposed allocations include increases of $230 million for Medicaid, $124 million for PEEHIP (Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan) costs and further investment in mental health and law enforcement.

The Alabama Legislature will have the final say on what the budgets look like.

Poole said that as the state reduces earmarked funds and removes one-time line items from the last budget, it may look like some agencies may have been negatively impacted.

“But there’s a story behind those numbers. Understand that we have not reduced operating maintenance costs at any of the agencies,” he said.

Fulford also reminded lawmakers of the expiration of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which provided Alabama schools with $3 billion in temporary funding. Officials warned that school districts may seek state support to continue programs initially funded by ESSER, potentially straining future budgets.

“You can’t sustain another $3 billion of funding, and by the way … you certainly couldn’t support it on an ongoing basis either,” Fulford said.

But Alabama’s economy seems strong compared to other states, Fulford said.

“There’s so many other states that are having to come in and figure out how to move the shells around to fill holes in their budget because of various decisions that they made, because of revenues declining and them not assuming the revenues were going to decline as fast as they did,” Fulford, adding that many states would like to be in Alabama’s position.

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Alabama

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

Published

9 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race

HOOVER, Ala. (WSFA) – Senator Tommy Tuberville officially filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover Monday morning.

“I want to make the lives of the people of this state better,” said Sen. Tuberville. “If I thought that staying in the U.S. Senate would be best for Alabama, I would’ve stayed. but I think the best thing for Alabama is for me to come back.”

He talked about the need to grow Alabama’s economy, with attracting manufacturers being a primary focus. Sen. Tuberville said that to do that, he would focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and making the state’s education and workforce systems more attractive to new residents.

When asked about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, a focus of his time in Washington, D.C., alongside President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Sen. Tuberville said, he expects to make changes if elected governor.

“You have a lot of different agencies here, we want to make them all better,” he said. “We also want to make sure that we save the taxpayers’ money, that we use it wisely and we give it back to them.”

The former Auburn football coach said he did not expect to go into politics, but now, he is ready to transition from national to state politics.

“It’s time to come home, put together a staff and worry about the state of Alabama and the people here,” he said.

According to Alabama’s constitution, someone running for governor has to have lived in the state for at least seven years. Some have questioned whether Sen. Tuberville fits that requirement. He said during the candidacy filing that the Republican Party of Alabama says he does fulfill the requirement.

The filing deadline for candidates to qualify for a major political party is Jan. 23.

Alabama’s Democratic primary has the following candidates:

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones
Dr. Will Boyd – businessman and engineer
JaMel Brown – pastor and talk show host
Chad ‘Chig’ Martin – businessowner

Alabama’s Republican Primary has the following candidates:

Sen. Tommy Tuberville
Ken McFeeters – former congressional candidate

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Alabama

Who has Alabama football lost in the transfer portal so far?

Published

21 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Who has Alabama football lost in the transfer portal so far?

Alabama football has already seen some of its roster clear out via the transfer portal in the days following its loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl. The Crimson Tide will likely see more attrition in the coming days, with players allowed to enter through Jan. 16.

As of Monday morning, 15 Alabama players had entered the portal. Here’s a look at what the Crimson Tide is losing via transfer.

Cam Calhoun

The Utah transfer was a backup cornerback for the Crimson Tide this season. He played a major role on special teams but had trouble cracking the lineup on defense for Alabama.

Calhoun began his college career at Michigan

Rico Scott

Scott was perhaps the fastest receiver on the team, but there were too many players on the depth chart ahead of him. Scott finished the year with 11 catches for 55 yards.

Keon Keeley

When he arrived in Tuscaloosa, Keeley was one of the nation’s top recruits, at the edge position. After a year with the Tide, he moved over to the more traditional defensive end spot that Kane Wommack calls the “bandit.”

Keeley finally was able to make an impact on the field this year after two season on the bench. He likely could have played an increased role with LT Overton off to the NFL, but opted to portal instead.

Wilkin Formby

Formby moved around in Alabama’s lineup during the 2025 season, his first as a full-time starter. He began the year at tackle, but wound up playing right guard as Michael Carroll took over the outside spot.

Cole Adams

Adams was the Crimson Tide’s primary punt returner. However, he didn’t have much of a role at wide receiver.

The Oklahoma native had five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown this season.

Micah DeBose

DeBose joined Alabama as a highly touted recruit before the 2025 season. He saw action in just one game for the Crimson Tide this year, against Eastern Illinois.

Peter Notaro

The Alabama kicking game was an issue at times during the 2025 season. Notaro battled with Conor Talty for the starting job in preseason camp, but Talty eventually earned the spot.

Notaro was a five-star kicker in the 2025 recruiting class according to Kohl’s.

Noah Carter

Carter was a four-star edge recruit for the Crimson Tide ahead of the 2024 season. He redshirted that season, but got more action in 2025.

He finished the year with nine total tackles before deciding to find greener pastures.

Olaus Alinen

Alinen was not a major part of what was an extremely large offensive line rotation this season. The member of Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class earned the most praise from coaches due to his versatility, with the native of Finland able to play both guard and tackle.

Jalen Hale

Hale was a contributor at receiver in 2023, before a major leg injury cost him the 2024 campaign. He returned in 2025, but wasn’t able to get significant playing time at receiver given the amount of talent ahead of him.

Joseph Ionata

Ionata was listed as Alabama’s backup center during the 2025 season. However, when it came down to it, Geno VanDeMark slid to the spot if Parker Brailsford needed to leave the field.

The redshirt freshman did see some playing time on special teams.

Jaylen Mbakwe

Mbakwe joined Alabama as a five-star prospect in the 2024 class and proceeded to have an interesting career in Tuscaloosa. He spent most of 2024 as a defensive back, before deciding to enter the transfer portal, then backing out and switching to wide receiver before the ReliaQuest Bowl.

He stuck at wideout for 2025, without seeing major playing time at that position.

Richard Young

Some turnover among Alabama’s running backs came as no surprise. Young was thought of as a potential starter at running back, but got lost in a struggling rotation.

He finished 2025 with 23 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Roq Montgomery

Montgomery did not see the field during the 2025 season. He had been a special teams contributor in 2024, and saw some snaps on the offensive line as well.

Kam Howard

Howard spent two seasons as a cornerback in Tuscaloosa after transferring in from Charlotte. He didn’t play much in 2025, finishing the year with two tackles.

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Alabama

A major overhaul ahead for the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line

Published

1 day ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

A major overhaul ahead for the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line

The first phase of good news for the Alabama Crimson Tide is happening. While indications are the two best Alabama offensive linemen will move to the NFL, there are eight other (and counting) offensive linemen who not return for the 2026 season. Three are out of eligibility: Jaeden Roberts, Kam Dewberry, and Geno Van DeMark. Five more are portal entries: Micah DeBose, Joe Ionata, Olaus Alinen, Roq Montgomery, and Wilkin Formby.

Why is the attrition good news? There are two reasons. Kalen DeBoer’s offensive lines have needed skill sets in short supply the last two seasons. His offense needs agile, quick-footed offensive linemen. Not many Alabama football fans will disagree, but for those who do, when two late-season games (Georgia and Indiana) are lost by a combined 56 points, a major overhaul is required.

For an offensive line overhaul, the Crimson Tide needed to free up roster slots, to improve talent, and reallocate money. The count of returning offensive linemen (as of late afternoon on Jan. 4) is six: Mike Carroll, Casey Poe, Jackson Lloyd, Mal Waldrep, Red Sanders, and Arkel Anugwon. In addition, the 2026 class added five more: Tyrell Miller (JUCO), Jared Doughty, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell, and Bryson Cooley

Next for the Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama could get lucky and have Parker Brailsford decide to play another season of college ball. Assuming that luck will not occur, three or four offensive linemen need to be added through the Portal. At least two of them need to be tabbed as near-locks to start in next fall’s season opener.

So far, the only target known publicly is Texas State center, Brock Riker. New targets are expected to surface soon, some of whom may not be in the portal yet. According to Yahoo Sports, Riker has been targeted by at least nine Power Four programs, with more offers expected soon.

The large number of transfer exits may be an indication that offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic will also move on. Many Alabama football fans are looking forward to DeBoer bringing in a new OL coach.

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