MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Early election returns Tuesday night show voters supporting the withdrawal of $437 million from a state trust fund to help balance the state General Fund budget for the next three years.
The proposed constitutional amendment is passing 65 percent to 35 percent with 25 percent of the precincts reporting.
Election officials reported a light turnout, which they said is typical for a single-issue election.
The Legislature left it up to voters to decide whether to use money from the Alabama Trust Fund or face cuts of 12 percent or more for the $1.7 billion General Fund budget that takes effect Oct. 1. The proposed constitutional amendment would take the money from a trust fund that receives the state's royalties from natural gas wells drilled off the Alabama coast.
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