The Pike County Commission heard a proposed FY2015 budget Monday night that included a 3 percent cost of living raise for county employees and two expenditures from the Commission’s capital improvement fund.

The Commissioners first considered an anniversary raise for the county employees but agreed upon the cost of living raise that will benefit all employees. The anniversary raise would have been $30,000 less.

The Commissioners agreed to include a $50,000 line item in the proposed budget for the restoration of the Pike Activities Building, commonly called the Rock Building, and $42,500 for capital improvements to the Pike County Courthouse.

In making the proposal for the $50,000 designation of funds to the Rock Building, Commissioner Robin Sullivan said the Commission should make a serious and strong commitment to the renovation of the building so the process could move forward.

Judge Shannon Clark requested funding for the Pike County Courthouse renovation project which has been set at $85,000 and the Commission agreed to half the cost.

Both the Rock Building and Courthouse projects will be funded from the Commission’s capital improvement budget. Funds from this budget can only be used for capital improvements.

The Commission also gave its approval to a budget request by the County Engineer Russell Oliver for two new motor graders for the Road Department but decided against the purchase of a license inspector’s truck for the department.

The proposed budget will be prepared for a final vote at the next Commission meeting or prior to Oct. 1, 2014.

Prior to the budget hearing, the Commission voted on changes to the Commission’s annual and sick leave policies. The changes in the annual leave policy will bring the county’s policy in line with that of the state. The change in the sick leave policy will not limit the maximum leave time credit toward retirement.

In other business, the Commission accepted the retirement request from an employee in the Road Department and agreed to Oliver’s request to advertise for an operator two and a part time temp operator for a period of six months.

Commission Ray Goodson also asked for an explanation as to how funds from the Probate Judge’s Transaction Fee Fund were spent.

Harry Sanders, county administrator, said Probate Judge Wes Allen said his office provides that information to the Commission each year at the Commission’s request and as the current law requires to include in the County’s Annual Financial Statement.