Commission approves $20.92 million budget, tables tax abatement request from Pilgrim’s

The Franklin County Commission approved a $20.926 million budget for FY2026-27 at a special called meeting Wednesday morning.

Commissioners unanimously approved the budget that includes a 3% raise to base pay, as well as any step raises due in the 2026-27 year, for all General Fund, Solid Waste and Highway Department employees.

A breakdown of the budget shows $11,420,807.93 for the General Fund, $5,335,988.43 for the Highway Department and $4,169,629.42 for the Solid Waste Department.

The General Fund budget includes the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office budget, which will be $3,169,354.32 for the coming year.

A 3.1% increase in health insurance premiums will also be absorbed by the county and not passed on to employees in the coming year. 

Included in the FY26-27 Solid Waste Department is an increase in tire fees, effective November 1, 2026, to $200/ton and $4/tire. The expiring fees are $100/ton and $2/tire.

As always, capital outlay items for each department will be purchased through that department’s budget.

The budget allows for $575,078.04 for payments on the loan taken out to construct the Franklin County Jail.

There were several additional items on the September 30th agenda, and commissioners:

—approved the hiring of Amara Qualls as a Corrections Officer/Dispatcher in the Sheriff’s Office.

—approved FMLA and catastrophic sick leave for Corrections Officer/Dispatcher Amy Patterson beginning on September 30, 2026.

—authorized Probate Judge Barry Moore to execute an agreement with Franklin County Schools for employment of the following School Resource Officers for FY26-27: Charles Hamby, Tharptown, Shane Mason, Vina, Brian Vickery, Belgreen and Greg Baker, Phil Campbell/East Franklin Schools.

The final agenda item, a tax abatement requested by Pilgrim’s Russellville for construction of a $118 million protein conversion plant that company officials say will create 65 new jobs, was tabled by commissioners at Moore’s request.

“I would ask that we table this in order to do some due diligence, especially when we gave them an abatement last year,” Moore said.

Moore was referencing a 10-year tax abatement for Pilgrim’sapproved by the commissioner last October. That abatement was for a $90 million capital improvement project Pilgrim’s officials said was expected to add 260 jobs for their Franklin County facility. That abatement was for improvements and renovation of existing buildings rather than construction of a new facility.

The abatement being considered by the commission now involves construction of a rendering plant, explained Franklin County Development Authority Executive Director Sherye Price at Wednesday’s meeting.

At a poultry rendering plant, inedible chicken by-products are cooked, sterilized and separated into small pellets that are often used for protein meal for animals.

Tax abatements involve a waiver of applicable taxes for a project or capital investment, with the exception of ad valorem taxes for education, and a small tax paid to the State of Alabama.

Abatements may be granted for projects related to new industry as well as expansion of existing industry. They are often offered as part of economic incentive packages for companies looking at multiple locations for relocation or expansion.