The Escambia County (Ala.) Commission passed its fiscal year 2019-20 budget Monday that gives all county employees a 25-cents per hour raise and a one-time $500 payment that will be given around Thanksgiving. The new budget also raises the starting pay for sheriff's deputies from $15.50 per hour to $17.50 per hour.
The General Fund budget shows revenues of $12,715,825 and expenditures of $12,704,217. Of the General Fund expenditures, public safety is $5,938,785 and general government is $4,011,708.
Other funds include $7,739,706 for roads and bridges
All funds combined total $22,114,868.
In July, 2017, the county began receiving a county-wide 1-cent sales tax that County Clerk-Administrator Tony Sanks said is generating about $3.6 to $3.8 million a year.
Bids approved
The commission also approved seven bids for the upcoming fiscal year, noting that a bid for stripping for county roads is being rebid.
The bids approved by the council are: gasoline and diesel fuel to Southern Energy Company/Cougar Oil, Inc.; signs and sign posts to Vulcan Signs; asphalt plant mix to Wiregrass Construction Co., in work area 1, Midsouth, Inc., for work area 2, Mobile Asphalt for work area 3 and Mobile asphalt for in place asphalt; Class A uniforms to Gall's and Class B uniforms and polo-type shirts to Gulf States Distributors; asphalt plant mix spot leveling to Robbie's Dozier; concrete pipe to Foley Products Co., for all circular concrete pipe and Alabama Pipe and Supply for all arch concrete pipe, concrete beveled ends and pipe wrap; and DTPM, Inc., for drug testing.
In other action Monday, the commission:
- Heard from Jason Fisher, field representative for U.S. Sen. Doug Jones. Fisher told the commission he works for the Senate staff and not the campaign staff and was there to introduce himself, listen and learn. He also said if the commission needed help on issues to give him a call.
- Heard from Sam Schjott, governmental communications director for Alabama Power Co. Schjott noted that Alabama Power had recently closed some of its offices that included Brewton and Flomaton and he was there as a communications director to introduce himself to the commission that said if they have any issues to call him.
