Mobile County Budget Approved

The Mobile County Commission recently approved its fiscal year 2024 budget of $203,350,036, which is a 6% decrease from the previous year because several one-time capital expenses are no longer present. The breakdown includes public safety at 47% ($95.7 million), which includes the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Jail, Strickland Youth Center, Court Police and subsidies to the courts and district attorney’s offices, and general government at 36% ($74.6 million), which includes the offices of the License and Revenue commissioners, Probate Court, county facilities, county services and related administrative expenses. In an effort to retain and recruit employees, the commission increased salaries across the board through a 5% cost of living increase. The county will also absorb the costs of a 3.5% health insurance increase. Several staffing additions are also planned, including a director and other positions in the parks and recreation department to accommodate expected increases in programs and services as a result of the county’s parks initiative, a multiyear program to increase public access to water and public outdoor recreational facilities through existing parks’ enhancements and expansions, as well as the development of new parks and boat launches. Additional funding for the initiative is from sources including the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement. Finally, for the fourth year in a row, the commission’s budget addresses the need to replace aging equipment, with $4.2 million budgeted for capital assets.