On paper, it appears the county’s 2013 fiscal year budget shows a deficit of nearly $1.5 million, but that’s not exactly accurate, county administrator Brenda Petty said.

Commissioners adopted the $22.9 million budget Friday that showed only $17.01 million in revenue. That budget does include a 3 percent cost of living adjustment for all county employees and public officials – including commissioners – effective Oct. 1.

What it doesn’t reflect is the $2 million warrant proceeds from a recent refinancing measure that were deposited into county coffers Thursday, which will serve as match for upcoming state funded road projects, Petty said.

“This budget doesn’t include carry forward totals,” she said. “That $2 million match was deposited Sept. 27, which means it had to be counted as revenue in FY2012, but we have to account for the expenses in the year that they happen, which will be FY 2013.”

Petty said the new budget is comparable to last year’s in terms of revenue versus expenditures.

Notable line items include nearly $2 million in Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency funds, $6.4 in general fund revenue and $2.4 million gas tax revenue., while the sheriff’s office budget was expanded by nearly $200,000 to include insurance changes and the lease of six new patrol cars.

In other business, commissioners:

• amended the agenda to approve paving Braswell Road, which is located off Ala. Hwy. 55 behind Judson Church;

• hired Dianne Lawrence as the new Covington Area Transit System (CATS) director;

• renewed the contract for the Senior Aid program at a cost of $1,800 per year;

• approved the $90,000 grant match for the 2013 fiscal year Drug Task Force, which will be reimbursed in part by departments participating in the agency;

• approved the 2013 holiday schedule; and,

• approved an assortment of bids for the road department.