Education budget may avoid mid-year cuts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Two Republican legislators who designed Alabama's first proration-free education budget in several years say they are optimistic the state's new education budget will also avoid midyear cutbacks.

Senate budget committee Chairman Trip Pittman and House budget committee Chairman Jay Love said Wednesday the first education budget they designed avoided midyear cutbacks due to tight spending controls and an improving economy. It was for the 2011-2012 school year. It came after several years of budgets designed by Democrats having to be trimmed after school started because appropriations exceeded tax collections.

Love and Pittman said the budget for the 2012-2013 school year also looks financially sound, barring a dramatic drop in the national economy.