A recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court says that your local state senators and representatives can no longer receive Community Service Grants to distribute to school and other entities within their districts.

There are varying opinions among legislators about the ruling. Some legislators feel that they should be the ones to deal out the money in the districts they represent because they know what the local needs are more than anyone else.

Others feel that the state will take care of its schools no matter how the money is allocated, because the money will be accounted for.

That’s the reason the high court is taking the money right out of the hands of lawmakers, because they feel that it’s not being trailed closely enough. Some voters have echoed the same opinion, that senators and representatives shouldn’t be allowed to handle large amounts of money for unbudgeted items.

However, some lawmakers feel that, should the money be handled by the governor, it puts too much money into the hands of an already busy individual.

Either way, residents can no longer call their representatives asking for money to fund unbudgeted items. This is the way it will be until the state comes to a conclusion as to how the money will be dealt with.

– The Clanton Advertiser