In a special called meeting Sept. 29, the Franklin County Commission approved its fiscal year 2021-2022 annual budget of approximately $14,331,043.99 – divided as follows, subject to being amended throughout the fiscal year.

• General Fund: $7,720,064.73
• Solid Waste Department: $2,521,127.18
• Highway Department: $4,089,852.08

As explained by the commission’s budget statement, 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 past fiscal year.

The budget includes a 4 percent cost of living raise for all eligible permanent and temporary county employees as well as any step raises due in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

The budget also includes a   pay scale adjustment for the Solid Waste Department.

There will be a 5.9 percent increase in the health insurance premiums that will be absorbed by the county in this budget and is not passed along to employees.

The budget includes the conversion of Tier II employees to receive Tier I employee benefits from the Retirement Systems of Alabama.

The Commission also approved:

• FY2021-2022 Reappraisal Budget of $842,156.56
• FY2021-2022 Janitorial Supply bids with American Paper and Twine and One Source Office Products.
• Turby’s Trading bid of $18,000 for purchase of dumpster truck.

In October, the Franklin County Commission will meet at 5 p.m. Oct. 12 for its work session, with its regular voting meeting Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m. The meetings take place in the Elizabeth Lucas Courthouse Annex.