The Escambia County Commission approved a $14.9 million budget Monday that included a one-time bonus for employees.

County Administrator Tony Sanks said each fulltime employee is to receive $500, and each part-time employee will receive $250.

The new fiscal year 2015 budget does not pass on any increase in health insurance premiums to employees, Sanks said.

In the general fund, the county is forecasting $8.24 million in revenues and $8.23 million in expenditures.
“It’s not the cushion we’d like to have, but it is the way it is,” Chairman David Stokes said of the total.

The figures also include a $3.1-million budget for general government; $4.3 million for public safety and $160,000 in debt service.

Other funds include nearly $4.9 million for the roads and bridges department; $697,500 for the reappraisal department; $341,000 for transportation department and $274,800 for the community corrections department.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved an agreement with the state transportation department for the final ATRIP projects, which include the resurfacing portions of Deer Creek Road, Airport Road, 10th Avenue, Carver Avenue and County Road 27, all near Atmore. Bids will be let Friday for the project, county engineer Bill Bridges said.

• Approved a contract for services with the state department of youth services and between the county’s transportation service and the aging program.

Brewton Standard publisher Stephanie Nelson wrote this story.