Alabama lawmakers are halfway through the current legislative session, and they have yet to address the elephant in the room — proposed budget cuts of $290 million from the state’s General Fund.

State parks are the first thing that will go, but there are many other departments that will suffer greatly as well.

“It is the Republican legislature that continues to not want to address this issue,” said Rep. Darrio Melton, who represents Selma. “Families are hurting because they are playing politics with things that we should not play politics with.”

Some of the Departments that will be impacted by the proposed cuts are the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Mental Health.

According to Melton, DHR is expected to lose $190 million in matching Federal funds, which will cause 13,000 children to lose subsidized childcare.

More than 30,000 children will also be left without benefits of food stamps, Melton said.

Melton said Department of Mental Health’s cuts will leave 14,000 Alabamians without therapy and 1,100 without intellectual disabilities service.

“The issues are systemic. It’s like a rolling snowball if you will,” Melton said. “The state parks are just the start of this, and it is because the pledge that Republicans have made that they will not raise taxes.”

County court systems will also be affected.

“All counties will have to reduce their staffing,” Melton said. “We’re looking at a possibility of 600 layoffs in the court system, which means longer lines and slower processes.”

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is looking at a $16 million cut, which will call for 100 state troopers, 25 special agents and other officers to be laid off.

“Providing public safety is a core function of government, and the Alabama Legislature has a responsibility to the citizens of Alabama to safeguard and adequately fund state law enforcement to ensure this mission is met,” said Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier in a press release.

Melton said the problems with the General Fund have been talked about for the last few years, but nothing has really been done to address it.

“I believe that is totally bad leadership because constitutionally our foremost priority and responsibility by the Alabama Constitution is to make sure we address our budget,” Melton said “We’re halfway through the session, and Republican leadership refuses to address the state budgets.”

Melton said the Democrats have proposed bills to increase taxes on tobacco as well as allowing people to vote on a state lottery.

“It will keep millions of dollars in this state yearly that we know is going to Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi,” Melton said.

Governor Bentley has also made a $541 million tax proposals, which he believes will solve the issues.

His plan includes increases for cigarette and tobacco taxes, automobile rental and sales taxes and changes to corporate income taxes, public utilities, and insurance premiums.

“There are solutions out there,” Melton said. “But the Republican led legislature refuses to provide any other solutions. They continue to want to cut government, and that is not the answer to the issues and problems we have.”

Budget cuts will go into effect May 1 when 5 state parks are scheduled to close their doors.

Paul M. Grist State Park between Selma and Plantersville will be closed May 1 without funding.