Thursday 1/25/2007 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/116972041482930.xml&coll=3 – Former Secretary of State delivers HAVA reimbursement to Montgomery County.

http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/116972026282930.xml&coll=3 – Press-Register comments on reports that Sen. Phil Poole (D-Moundville) switched sides in struggle for senate control following receipt of contribution from AEA.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/116972042183030.xml&coll=1 – Candidate for House District 22 returns PAC contributions.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS/701250354/1007/NEWS02 – Proposed increase in federal minimum wage stalls in Senate.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/APN/701243221 – Anti-smoking group seeks more tobacco settlement funds to support prevention programs.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS/701250310/1012/editorial1 – The Tuscaloosa News calls for Sen. Phil Poole (D-Moundville) to explain to his constituents the circumstances of contribution the day before he switched sides in battle for senate control.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/NEWS02/701250339/1009 – Senate deputy pro tem optimistic that chamber can put leadership struggle aside and have a productive session.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/OPINION01/701250312/1012/OPINION – The Montgomery Advertiser calls for state leaders to work together to overhaul state’s water protection programs.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/OPINION01/701240366/1012/OPINION – The Montgomery Advertiser views governor’s proposal to provide tax incentives to small businesses to encourage their offering health insurance to employees “a sensible approach.”

http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2007/as-editorials-0125-0-7a24t4328.htm – The Anniston Star lauds Gov. Riley’s plan to help Alabamians without health insurance but not his proposal to pay for it.

FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:

Legislators ponder state education bond issue

MONTGOMERY — A state bond issue for school improvements is likely in the coming legislative session, but education leaders say even $1 billion may not be enough for all the needs around the state.

Following a failed attempt by Gov. Bob Riley to give $500 million of state money for school capital improvements last year, Democrats and Republicans say they’re willing to revisit the matter in the form of a bond issue.

Democrats say at least $1 billion will be needed. Republicans say they’re open to discussing the figure.

But the State Department of Education says schools will need $4.3 billion for capital projects through 2011. The figure is based on five-year plans submitted by superintendents around the state.

Some $2 billion of that will come from local sources, but a $1 billion state bond issue would leave a $1.3 billion gap, requiring schools to find more money or delay projects.

Without a bond issue, “The only state dollars is the public school fund, about $130 million per year,” said Perry Taylor, the state school architect with the Department of Education. “That’s a very small amount. All the capital improvements are being made through local efforts.”

And based on recent events, the $4.3 billion estimate could change, said Brooke Thorington, Education Department spokeswoman.

“Looking over that five-year scale, we didn’t know (in 2005) gas would go up as far as it did, and that has repercussions,” she said. “And if you have a shortage of steel, that has repercussions. Comparing $1 billion to $4.3 billion is quite a range.”

Population growth and aging buildings mean the Calhoun County School System needs two new middle schools, in Alexandria and White Plains. Alexandria’s high school and elementary schools increased by 78 students this year, while White Plains’ high school and middle school increased by 81 students.

Construction will cost $18 million to $20 million, said Jacky Sparks, Calhoun County superintendent. The district gets between $1.72 million and $1.9 million from the state each year for major projects. That accumulates in a capital fund. One school will be built with money from the account, Sparks said. The other will be paid for with a bond issue – either local or a combination of local and state.

Jacksonville City Schools gets $200,000 to $250,000 each year for capital projects, but because of debt payments, the district has only about $75,000 for improvements, said Superintendent Eric Mackey.

That barely meets minor needs. The district, for instance, needs $100,000 to replace doors that are 40 years old. The district spent $25,000 last year on doors.

“During the day, when kids are coming in and out, the doors don’t open and close as well as possible,” he said. “And because they’re 40 years old, you can’t buy replacement parts for them any more.”

Democrats and Republicans agree a bond issue is needed, though they have not discussed how big it should be. Riley’s 2006 proposal would have allocated money to schools based on population, with districts getting a minimum of $200,000. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, the chairman of the House’s Education Appropriations Committee, wants a state bond issue in the $1 billion range, though he acknowledges the money won’t cover all the schools’ needs.

House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said he does not have a problem with going that high, but said he wants communities that have invested substantially in their schools to get more than communities that have not.

“There should be fair balance from the state,” he said. “We don’t want to send a message, ‘Don’t do anything locally, and the state will do it for you.’”

Riley proposed a $500 million bond in his Plan 2010 platform, but told The Anniston Star last fall he would be willing go higher. Tara Hutchinson, a spokeswoman for Gov. Riley, said Monday the governor was pleased at the Democrats’ interest, but she said a final number had not been reached.

Sally Howell, assistant executive director of the Alabama Association of School Boards, said Monday that a $1 billion bond issue would be “doable.”

The AASB, Howell said, wants flexibility in how the money is spent.

“We prefer to see a liberal definition of what capital outlay needs are,” she said. “Perhaps one community has invested in wiring, but they have not built some of the buildings. In another case, they may have built buildings but may have need of wiring.”

The size of the bond issue will determine the scope of the project. Jacksonville has about $10 million in capital needs, Mackey said. If the district gets around $7 million, it will build a new middle school. With $700,000 to $1 million — what the district expects it will get — it would build an addition to a high school. With $500,000, the school system will repair roofs.

“I don’t know the fix for that,” Mackey said of capital needs. “Because when we talk about increasing revenue to do things our parents want to do and our teachers want to do, people generally balk.”