What’s The Best Way For States To Overcome A Budget Shortfall?

| May 14, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:337;s:4:"file";s:57:"2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:55:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-554x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:554;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1432242511:1
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:9:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:4:"file";s:34:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget.jpg";}s:18:"full-1432242792249";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:49:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242768315.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-253x169.jpg";s:5:"width";i:253;s:6:"height";i:169;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-507x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:507;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-507x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:507;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-466x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:466;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-397x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => StockMonkeys.com
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_is_custom_background] => Array
        (
            [0] => wbhm
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:175789;s:14:"optimized_size";i:123514;s:7:"percent";d:29.739999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:85:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39350;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27604;s:7:"percent";d:29.850000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-336x189.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14045;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10182;s:7:"percent";d:27.5;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:91:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3144;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3063;s:7:"percent";d:2.5800000000000001;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-600x337.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39366;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27620;s:7:"percent";d:29.84;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24482;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17765;s:7:"percent";d:27.440000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-554x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31237;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19964;s:7:"percent";d:36.090000000000003;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24165;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17316;s:7:"percent";d:28.34;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1668490258 
1431638326

With Alabama facing a budget shortfall of more than $250 million, legislators have a few ideas on how to fill the gap: a lottery, gambling, raising taxes. But what works best? Alabama’s not the first state with budget problems. How have other states fixed their budgets?

For an expert perspective, WBHM talked with Mike Leachman, Director of State Fiscal Research at The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. They’re a non-partisan research and policy institute which works on fiscal policy at the federal and state level. Leachman tells WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley some proven strategies for long term revenue growth, and about issues other states face with gambling.

 

Birmingham Museum of Art’s silver exhibit tells a dazzling global story

Silver and Ceremony is made up of more than 150 suites of silver, sourced from India, and some of their designs.

Mentally ill people are stuck in jail because they can’t get treatment. Here’s what’s to know

Hundreds of people across Alabama await a spot in the state’s increasingly limited facilities, despite a consent decree requiring the state to address delays in providing care for people who are charged with crimes but deemed too mentally ill to stand trial. But seven years since the federal agreement, the problem has only worsened.

Ivey appoints Will Parker to Alabama Supreme Court

Parker fills the court seat vacated by Bill Lewis who was tapped by President Donald Trump for a federal judgeship. The U.S. Senate last month confirmed Lewis as a U.S. district judge.

How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country

In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.

No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS

The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.

Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue

Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.

More Government Coverage