County commissioners got their first look at a proposed $44.89 million budget for fiscal year 2013, which calls a $649,880 increase but would not require a millage rate increase.

County Manager John Middleton presented the budget at last weekend's county retreat and said it would restore five paid holidays to county employees. He has lobbied for employees to have some of their benefits restored as they currently have to take 15 unpaid holidays and haven't had merit or cost of living increases for three years.

Middleton said the budget is largely based on last year's $44.28 million budget because revenues are expected to be similar.

Most departments would receive more money under the fiscal year 2013 budget largely due to restoration of five paid holidays for employees. Personnel costs comprised around 67 percent of the budget last year.

The sheriff's office and jail, which employ around 250 employees, saw the largest increase at $625,890, which also includes 20 percent more overtime pay. The total budget for law enforcement and the jail is $18.66 million.

The elections department saw an increase of $123,395 to $595,410 because there are county elections this year.

The largest cut came from the chief executive department, which includes the chairman's office, board of commissioners, county clerk, accounting and finance, purchasing, grants and contract administration, county landscape architect, special projects and general county administration costs. The chief executive budget was cut by $418,625 to $1.77 million, though specifics for the cut were not discussed at the retreat.

Both the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce and Department of Family and Children's Services made request for more funding, but Middleton said those requests were denied because he felt it was more important for the county to restore benefits back to its employees first.

He said the employees have stayed committed to the county, and it was time for the county to repay that commitment. He said he'd still like to explore giving back half of the 15 unpaid holidays this year so the employees could be fully restored in two years.

Middleton said the county expects to collect nearly $2 million less in property taxes, because of the continuing affect of state law that says foreclosures must be valued at the price at which they were sold. The digest has not yet been finalized, but Chief Tax Appraiser is expected to give an update at a Monday work session at the Historic Courthouse.

Sales tax projections do project to increase, and the county will also receive an additional $1 million-plus in insurance premium tax revenue because of the county's growth in the 2010 Census. Middleton said those revenues would help offset the loss in property taxes.

The budget also contains a $250,000 contingency which will help deal with increases in gasoline costs, Middleton said.