Bentley admin. sparks outrage with threat to close driver's license offices, state parks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier announced his agency will shutter all but four of the state’s driver’s license offices, unless the legislature signs on to Gov. Robert Bentley’s tax increase proposals. But some conservative lawmakers are accusing the Bentley administration of using “scare tactics” in another effort build support for his plan.

Gov. Bentley requested $55 million be appropriated for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) next fiscal year, up from $40 million this year. According to the Executive Budget Office, lawmakers approved a budget that would have funded ALEA at approximately $53 million, but Gov. Bentley vetoed that budget.

ALEA was established in January of this year after 12 of the state’s law enforcement agencies were combined into one entity. It was sold as a cost-cutting measure that would save money through streamlining and eliminating redundancies. In addition to its General Fund appropriation, the agency also receives $121 million in earmarked funds.

It is unclear at this time whether the restructuring achieved cost-savings for taxpayers, but the agency’s head is already warning they will only be able to maintain driver’s license offices in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile, unless taxes are raised.

“Driver License Offices WILL close if ALEA is not leveled funded,” (emphasis original) an ALEA spokesperson told Yellowhammer via email Tuesday afternoon.

The closures would be implemented in phases, starting with the closure of rural “field offices” and concluding in March 2016 with only four offices being operational.

“The point is we don’t want to do this,” said Secretary Collier. “We understand this is a service the public has to have. We felt we’ve done our part by examining our driver’s license function and trying to see where we could be more efficient.”

Representative Ed Henry (R-Hartselle), one of the legislature’s most vocal opponents of tax increases, called the plan a “scare tactic” and insisted the ALEA consolidation has not saved the state the amount of money proponents claimed it would.

“It is the same old same old. ALEA is no different than any other agency,” Henry said. “They waste a large portion of their money in salaries for people working in Montgomery, not where the rubber meets the road.”

Senator Paul Bussman (R-Cullman) took his criticisms a step further on Facebook, likening the threats of office closures to “Chicken Little.”

CHICKEN LITTLE!! THE SKY IS FALLING!! I’m so tired of the fear campaign that is being generated right now by the Governor and the bureaucracy in Montgomery. If you have missed it, this is what they are threatening: IF YOU, as citizens, DON’T PAY MORE TAXES, WE (the Governor and Bureaucracy in Montgomery) INTEND TO HURT YOU IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN!! WE WILL CLOSE STATE PARKS. WE WILL CLOSE ALL BUT 4 DRIVERS LICENSE OFFICES, WE WILL CLOSE YOUR HOSPITALS, ETC. ETC.!!!

The fact of the matter is that we have enough money but greed and turf wars have taken over. I, along with a few others, have provided a reasonable solution to fix the budget without the sky falling. Now the question is this: Are we here to make the tough decisions or are we here to take advantage of the public? My decision is to do the right thing and make the tough decisions, do not raise taxes and live within our means.

Critics of the ALEA plan also pointed out the agency recently instituted a $12.75 increase on license renewal fees, which should help fund the offices, and noted their workload should be somewhat alleviated by Alabamians now being allowed to renew their licenses online.

The Governor’s office hopes the prospect of office closures will compel Alabamians to support the governor’s desire to bring in more tax revenue. The closures would lead to long lines and wait times for thousands of Alabamians seeking to renew or receive their license in person.

It has become a familiar tactic.

Earlier this year the State Conservation Department announced it would close several State Parks unless the Legislature passed tax increases. But after a swift and loud outcry from Alabamians, the agency backed off.

On Tuesday, however, Director Greg Lein renewed that threat, saying every state park will close if his department’s budget is cut.

The Alabama Legislature is expected to return to Montgomery in the next few weeks for the year’s second Special Legislative Session. They will have less than a month to pass another budget before the current Fiscal Year ends Oct. 1.