The Chilton County Commission passed a budget of about $16 million Monday for the upcoming fiscal year.

The projected revenue is an increase from last year’s budget of $14.5 million.

Commissioner Shannon Welch commended county administrator Connie Powell and Tax Collector Tim Little for their work with the budget.

“Tim and Connie tried to figure out the things we needed to have figured out,” Welch said.

Welch suggested commissioners work to make an effort to meet bi-monthly to make sure revenues for the budget come in as expected.

“I think it will be very important for us to stay on top of this,” Welch said.

Commission Chairman Allen Caton said since his time on the commission, this was the largest budget he has ever passed.

“I want to commend this commission,” Caton said. “We have worked to get this thing where it is at.”

Commissioner Joseph Parnell said there was not a lot of “fudge” room this year, but the commission passed a balanced budget.

In 2014, commissioners started holding budget hearing work sessions with county department heads.

The purpose of the meetings was for commissioners to meet with the department heads and discuss their budgets.

Commissioners held similar meetings in 2015 with department heads.

Commissioners also approved the 2015-2016 county holiday schedule. Holidays included in the schedule are Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

Commissioners also voted to approve a resolution approving the dates and times of commission meetings for 2015-2016.

Parnell made a motion for commissioners to consider that at least one meeting per quarter the commission meetings be held during the day to give county department heads the opportunity to participate.

“I know we have jobs, but I think this would give us an opportunity to interact with county employees,” Parnell said.

Commissioners voted to approve meetings on March 28, 2016, June 27, 2016 and Sept. 26, 2016 to be held at 8 a.m. in the commission chamber of the Chilton County Courthouse.

The rest of the meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month.

Since the next commission meeting will fall on Columbus Day (Oct. 12), commissioners voted to approve to allow Powell to pay all of the necessary budgeted bills during the time commissioners will not meet.

The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Oct. 26.

For more from Mondays meeting, check a future edition of The Clanton Advertiser or www.clantonadvertiser.com.