The Butler County Commission approved a $15,517,660 budget for fiscal year 2013-2014.

The budget represents an approximately $13,000 increase over the county’s budget for fiscal year 2012-2013.

“This is about as close as we could get it to the same total as last year given the state of the economy,” Butler County Commission Chairman Frank Hickman said following Monday night’s meeting.

The new budget includes a 3 percent cost of living raise for all county employees, with the exception of County Engineer Dennis McCall, whose raise is included in his contract and employees who currently make less than $9 an hour.

Those employees will not receive the 3 percent increase, but will receive a raise to $9.

If an employee makes less than $9 an hour, but would make more than $9 an hour if he or she received the 3 percent raise, that employee will receive the 3 percent increase.

The budget also includes a provision for the possible hire of a part-time employee with the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. The commission allowed Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Shirley Sandy to budget $10,400 for the hire.

“The hiring of a new employee would still need to be approved by this commission,” Hickman said.

The commission also voted to include a $25,000 appropriation to the Butler County Industrial Development Authority.

Last year, the county provided a $50,000 appropriation to the BCIDA.