Governor Robert Bentley is challenging legislators to be leaders as they address the state's budget crisis next year.
Bentley says he wants to make significant changes instead of putting a Band-Aid on the state's budget for another year. The governor has said he will suggest solutions when he submits his proposed budget next year, but has not yet detailed what those will be.
Legislators heard a grim General Fund presentation on the final day of legislative orientation.
Budget chairman Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur says the $1.8 billion is facing a minimum hole of about $260 million for fiscal year 2016. Orr said that doesn't include needs for prisons, Medicaid, repayments to a rainy day fund and money owed to the federal government for Medicaid overpayments.
