Auburn Rotary Club Program
July 24, 2003

David Perry from the state's finance office presented the reasons for and Gov. Riley's ideas to address the severe budget deficits facing our state today. The plan is a second phase in the sweeping reforms the government has already brought to state government — reforms that have already sought to cut $230 million in state spending just this year.

The governernor's plan seeks to restore accountability and integrity in government service, including education and “pass-through pork.”

The plan seeks to equitably redistribute the personal income tax burden by exempting the first $20,000 of income for Alabama taxpayers. Additional changes in Alabama's tax structure for property, tobacco, services and automobile taxes are proposed.

For more information about the plan, visit the Web site for the Alabama Partnership for Progress.