The Franklin County Commission passed a $12 million operating budget during a special called meeting Tuesday morning.

The commissioners approved the fiscal year 2014-2015 budget totaling $12,259,003.05, which was a slight decrease over the 2013-2014 budget, which was $12,274,256.

The new budget goes into effect Wednesday, Oct. 1.

This year’s budget includes any step raises due in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and it also includes a $0.25 cost of living adjustment to all pay scales.

The budget is divided as follows: the general fund is allocated $6,527,835.60, the solid waste department is allocated $2,386,132.53, and the highway department was budgeted for $3,345,034.92.

There will be no change in in health insurance premiums or benefits.

The difference needed to balance this year’s budget will come from transfers from the capital improvements fund, public buildings fund, public highway and traffic fund and fund balance brought forward from the last fiscal year, according to the commission.

“I appreciate all the work from the department heads, the county commission staff, county administrator Crista Madden, the county employees, and the commission on this year’s budget,” Probate Judge Barry Moore said.

“A lot of work by a lot of people goes into making a budget, but even more work goes into living within the budget. It’s just like our previous budget – it’s very tight, but I think all of our department heads will continue to work to stay within their budget.”

County administrator Crista Madden said the money generated from the one-cent school tax, which voters approved to split 75/25 with 25 percent of the tax going to the county commission for matching funds for necessary ATRIP projects, will not be included in this year’s budget figures at all.

“The 25 percent that we receive from the one-cent tax will go into a completely separate fund that will only be used in conjunction with the matching funds we will owe for the ATRIP projects that have already been approved,” Madden said.

“That money will not come into play in the budget whatsoever. It is strictly for these ATRIP projects.”

Probate Judge Barry Moore said he appreciated the voters for allowing the tax to be split for these necessary projects as well as both school systems and superintendents Rex Mayfield and Gary Williams for working with the commission and supporting the split.

“This will be a tremendous thing for the county because it means we will have a source of funding for these road and bridge projects that are so important throughout the county,” Moore said. “I want to thank the voters again for approving this amendment and the schools for being so supportive.”