COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Commission at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 9, approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year with significant increases in revenue projections and expenses, which include several capital improvement projects.

The budget includes General Fund revenues increasing from $76.4 million in Fiscal Year 2018 and a projected total of $71.4 million in the current fiscal year to about $80.2 million in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Highway Department revenues, which are separate from the General Fund, are projected at $17.6 million for Fiscal Year 2020, compared to $15.6 million in 2018 and $16.9 million in 2019.

Expenditures, meanwhile, will total about $79.5 million in the next fiscal year, compared to $65.9 million in 2018 and $66.6 million in 2019.

The most significant difference in the approved budget compared to recent years is an extensive list of capital improvement projects, which includes:

• Shelby 280 Center for 911 communications, economic development and other offices.
• Department of Human Resources building addition and renovation.
• Shelby County Courthouse courtroom additions and renovation.
• Shelby County Arts Center.
• Design of major distribution water main, replacement of existing line on Shelby County 280.
• Design of Cell 5 at Shelby County Landfill.
• Inverness Parkway Trail.
• Veterans Park off Alabama 119 and potential project with Alabaster, Alabaster City Schools and the county at Thompson High School.
• Calera Eagle Park new athletic field and track complex.
• Chelsea Park project near Chelsea Community Center.
• Cahaba River Park South Sector.
• Helena Tucker Park restroom project and assistance with Miracle League field.
• Shelby Iron Works Park adjacent land being considered for Forever Wild project.
• Dunnavant Valley Greenway Phase 2 extension to pedestrian tunnel.
• University of Montevallo College of Fine Arts facility and performing arts center/theater.
• American Village theater project in the Supreme Court building.
• Sheriff’s Office vehicle replacements.
• Operating Clean Sweep, which is a $50,000 effort to remove litter and debris from rights of way, and public lands and waters.

Most of the listed projects are joint efforts between the county and municipalities or other entities.

The budget also includes a 2-percent cost of living adjustment for county employees and nine new full-time positions.

The new positions are four Sheriff’s Office deputy positions covered through a general fund increase to the Sheriff’s Office budget, four deputy positions covered through additional contract funding with Chelsea and Wilsonville, and one revenue assistant position in the Property Tax Commissioner’s Office.