MONTGOMERY— Governor Robert Bentley today declared 15 percent proration of the state’s General Fund budget for the remainder of FY 2011. Governor Bentley signed the proration declaration shortly after signing a bill that provides supplemental appropriations for certain health and public safety agencies as well as the Ethics Commission. The supplemental appropriations bill passed in the Legislature today.

The state is facing more than a $100-million shortfall in the General Fund budget, making proration necessary.

“In order to balance the budget, I have no choice but to declare 15-percent proration of the General Fund budget, said Governor Bentley. “For some time we have anticipated the need to do this, and now that we have protected certain agencies from budget cuts, we must take this action.”

Alabama’s Constitution prohibits deficit spending. When the state’s revenue falls below appropriations, the governor must declare across-the-board cuts. The proration declaration signed by the Governor today will be in effect until the end of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30.