The Mobile County Commission on Monday unanimously approved the county’s 2025 budget, which includes a 9% boost over the previous year because of increased property and sales tax revenue.

The $221.2 million budget is up from $203.35 million last fiscal year.

Most of the expenditures come from public safety ($104.3 million), which includes funding for the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Metro Jail, Strickland Youth Center, court police and subsidies to the courts and district attorney’s office. The second-largest expenditure is general government ($84.4 million), which includes funding for the offices of license commissioner, revenue commissioner, probate court, facilities, county services and related administrative expenses.

The budget also provides for a 5% cost-of-living increase for county employees, along with an absorption of a 5% increase in health insurance. This is the fourth year that commissioners have provided a COLA and not increased employees’ insurance premiums.

“It’s important we stay competitive in the market because there’s a lot of competition between different government agencies here and in the private sector who seem to be able to pay their employees more,” Commission President Randall Dueitt said.

The commission also approved a $7.9 million bid from MidAmerica Sports Construction to build four permanent fields and a parking area for phase II of the Mobile County Soccer Complex.

“Right now, we have three fields out there and another four will make seven,” Mobile Sports Authority Executive Director Danny Corte said. “What that means is you can get bigger tournaments. Besides soccer, we have lacrosse and a big flag football tournament we’re talking to for next fall. Any time we can expand our facilities, we can expand the size of our tournaments, too.”

Commissioner Connie Hudson said the new fields should be completed by May or June 2025.

Courtesy of Call News.