Mobile County Commission Approves Budget

Posted on: Sep 26th, 2022 | News and Announcements Press Releases featured news

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – The Mobile County Commission approved its Fiscal Year 2023 budget of $216,160,298 on Sept. 26, 2022 with a focus on public facilities and district improvements, as well as on the retention and attraction of employees.

The FY 2023 budget represents a 10% increase over FY 2022 and is the largest budget ever approved by Mobile County Commission.

Mobile County Commission’s single largest category of expenditure in its FY 2023 Budget is Public Safety at 41% (approximately $88 million) and its second largest category is General Government at 33% (approximately $72 million). These are typically Mobile County’s largest expenses and include public services like facilities, roads, workforce, Sheriff’s Department and Metro Jail.

As a result of conservative budgeting in recent years, Mobile County Commission was able to commit $45 million in previous years’ carryover to the FY 2023 Budget. This carryover investment represents the bulk of the year-over-year budget increase. The majority of the carryover, $37 million, will be used for one-time capital investments that will have positive long-term impact on Mobile County’s quality of life and quality of place, such as new road and bridge equipment and infrastructure projects like Mobile County’s sports parks.

Commissioners Merceria Ludgood, Connie Hudson and Randall Dueitt also chose to invest in Mobile County employees by absorbing a 6.4% cost increase in health insurance premiums as well as with a 5% cost of living (COLA) increase. Additionally, most Mobile County employees will also receive a second one-time non-recurring benefit ($2,500 full-time or $1,250 part-time), made possible through wages provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act.

Mobile County Commission’s Budgets are posted at https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/government/departments/budget-and-finance/

Commissioner comments:

District 1 - Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said:

“Our growing economy and several years of conservative budgeting allow us to make new investments while continuing to provide County services.”

District 2 - Commission President Connie Hudson said:

“This is a transformational budget that focuses attention on capital investment, which will have long-term impact on improving quality of life and will allow Mobile County to stay competitive with other large urban areas within the state.”

District 3 - Commissioner Randall Dueitt said:

“We appreciate the work our roughly 1,600 employees do and we’re pleased to give the COLA, the one-time benefit and to be able to cover the increase in health insurance premiums.”