The people of Senate District 27 are highly committed to education. Record-breaking education budgets have recently been enacted by the Legislature with the support and implementation of the Senate Taxation and Finance Committee, on which Sen. Little has served for some 24 years.
Both K-12 and post-secondary schools have benefited from recommendations by the Committee, which urged budgets far exceeding recommendations of the current administration.
Most notably, Auburn University has benefited from increased funding. The record-breaking $288 million appropriation to AU fuels an economic engine that benefits all of East Alabama. Many people don't realize that supporting higher education can also lead to economic benefits and jobs. Sen. Little, however, is a firm believer in the idea that supporting university research leads to the development of "intellectual properties" that are commercially viable. He believes that the $288 million budget for AU supports the partnership developing between higher education and business.
In the last three and a half years, for example, Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa counties in Sen. Little's Senate District 27 have seen the addition of 4,000 new jobs. According to the Alabama Development Office, some 55 different companies have announced plans to build or expand, representing an investment of more than $464 million. A great many of those companies are locating in the area because of the proximity of Auburn University and the expertise of the university's faculty. That's why Sen. Little has been a stalwart in fighting for increased education budgets; he understands the direct relationship between supporting education and supporting economic development.
Additional funding for public education means a lot of other things to students, as well. Schools across the district are getting school nurses, and a workforce development program is being implemented throughout the community college system, including Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City, Southern Union Community College in Opelika, Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City and Troy State University in Phenix City.
Sen. Little's interest in education doesn't stop with funding, either. For example, when a 6-year-old Auburn girl was killed by a careless driver as she disembarked from a school bus six years ago, Sen. Little co-sponsored the School Bus Safety Bill, which was backed by the Alabama Association of School Boards and finally signed into effect by Gov. Bob Riley in April. The law sets the same penalties statewide for motorists who threaten the safety of nearly 363,000 children getting on and off school buses every day. Fines range from $150 to $300 for a first offense, up to as much as $3,000 for a fourth offense.