County employees in Dale County know that times are tough. With rising gas prices and stagnant pay checks, every little bit helps.

Karen Wootten, the Director of Ozark-Dale Co. Family Service Center, says, “Everybody appreciates the 35 cents, it can always be used, especially with gas prices."

Thanks to the new budget, county employees like Eleanor Outlaw will be seeing a little more in their paycheck.

After Monday night's county commission meeting, officials say the new budget increased from last years. The General Fund sits at more than $5 million. An additional $2 million will go towards improving roads and bridges.

And thanks to the extra funding county employees are not the only ones that are going to be reaping the benefits from the extra funds.

Karen Wootten says, "It will really help towards these programs and services we have going here."

Because of the extra money in the budget, services like the Ozark-Dale County service center will be receiving some financial help as well.

Eunice Hagler, a Dale Co. Probate Judge, says, "The organizations that contribute too, they will be able to serve their citizens and do their designated duties."

Judge Hagler says other services like the volunteer fire department and many others will benefit from the new budget. He also says without the taxes on homes, the added funds would not have been available.

Judge Hagler says, "The re-appraisal, do that every so often and then you get additional revenues or you might get less but we got more."

The new budget will last until next September, when it will be reviewed once again.