During Monday’s Atmore City Council meeting, council members unanimously approved the city’s operating budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The budget includes approximately $9.24 million in expenses, an increase from last year’s budget of $8.73 million.

Council member Susan Smith made a motion to approve the budget Monday, and Webb Nall seconded the motion.

Atmore Mayor Jim Staff said the city projected the nearly $500,000 increase because it believes the economy is starting to improve. In addition, the city expects that Walmart will open sometime during the fiscal year, resulting in additional tax revenue.

“It’s happening slowly, but we really feel that the economy is picking up,” he said. “We had a better year this year than last year, and hopefully that continues.”

The $9,242,736 budget is broken down as follows:

• General government — $1,152,687 (12 percent of the operating budget).

• Municipal court — $180,385 (2 percent).

• Building and inspection — $334,616 (4 percent).

• Police department — $2,241,530 (24 percent).

• Drug Task Force — $377,428 (4 percent).

• Fire department — $1,229,250 (13 percent).

• Street and sanitation — $1,314,500 (14 percent).

• Parks and recreation — $291,900 (3 percent).

• Library — $288,750 (3 percent).

• Subsidies and appropriations — $1,476,352 (16 percent).

• Airport — $75,638 (1 percent).

• Beautification — $177,000 (2 percent).

• Landfill — $102,700 (1 percent).

In other business, the council officially set the city’s Trick-or-Treat hours for Halloween night, Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. for children 12 years old and under.