County commission passes expanded budget

Sep. 25--Cullman County employees will see both a bump in pay as well as slightly increased health care costs in the coming year, following the county commission's approval of a 2020 budget that surpasses last year's $57.8 million budget by more than $10 million.

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the commission signed off on a $68,346,281 budget for fiscal year 2020, reaping the fruits of increased tax revenues enjoyed nearly across the board by other local municipal entities, over the past year, in an improved economy.

All county employees, including those on salary, will receive a $.70 per-hour raise; a pay increase that will disproportionately improve the pay of lower-wage workers -- a measure, according to county officials, intended to help attract entry-level candidates in a competitive job market.

County employees will, however, see their monthly health insurance premiums increase slightly -- a result of the steeply increased medical coverage costs the county has incurred over the past year. Single-member employee coverage is increasing from $48 per month to $60, while family coverage plans will increase from $210 per month to $240. The commission approved the increase in a separate action at Tuesday's meeting.

Other employee benefits, however, will see small enhancements at no additional costs, thanks to an additional measure that enriches coverage for short- and long-term disability, life, and accidental death and dismemberment. County human resources manager Judy Bradford said improving the package of starting benefits for employees represents a way the county can better entice workers who have a choice between public employment and employment in the private sector.

"We're competing with other employers who offer more benefits," she explained. "In looking at the things we might could do to attract qualified workers and keep them employed with the county, this is one of the things we're suggesting."

The biggest pieces of the pie in this year's budget come courtesy of the four areas that typically claim the lion's share of the county's funds in most years. The General Fund for 2020 rings in at $22.838 million; the water department will take up $13.910 million; the sanitation department will receive $12.172 million; and the road department will receive $10.575 million -- including the additional revenues, this year, expected as local earmarks from the new Alabama gas and diesel tax.

Out of the $22.838 million General Fund, the Cullman County Sheriff's Office and detention center claim by far the biggest portion -- $12.016 million; more than half of the General Fund budget. The next-closest claimant on General Fund money is the Revenue Commission, which will receive a budgeted $1.370 million for fiscal year 2020.

In a separate action at Tuesday's meeting, the commission also approved a new 10 percent rate increase for all Cullman County Water Department Customers. The price bump, said county officials, is a reaction to an 11.2 percent increase in the price of wholesale water the county purchases from the City of Cullman, and comes in anticipation of a potential additional increase of approximately 8 percent, according to an advisory from a study conducted for the water department by St. John & Associates, Inc.

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