County commission passes budget

The Franklin County Commission passed an $11.9 million budget Wednesday, which includes a 50-cent cost of living adjustment to base pay on all county pay scales.

The county budget will be divided as follows: $6,156,756.76 in the general fund, $2,326,184.21 for the solid waste department and $3,440,123.47 for the highway department.

Probate Judge Barry Moore said the budget is tight for the new fiscal year, but it is something the county can work with.

“All of the department heads did a good job staying within budget this year,” he said.

“We are all trying to the do the best we can and I really appreciate the county commission for their work on it.”

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 the fund balance brought forward from the last fiscal year.

A 3.2 percent increase in health insurance premiums was absorbed in the budget as well.