Alabama Special Session Continues

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama lawmakers are inching toward a budget agreement that banks on taking some funds from education.

A conference committee voted Tuesday to shift $80 million from use tax collections and give the money to the general fund. The figure was a compromise between House and Senate proposals.

The conference committee also approved a revamp of the reserve fund for education. The state Senate and House of Representatives will vote Tuesday afternoon on the compromise plan.

Lawmakers are trying to break a deadlock on how to handle a $200 million budget shortfall. Legislators must get a budget in place by Oct. 1 or state agencies will be without money to operate.

Senate could also vote Tuesday on a 25-cent-per-pack cigarette tax.