Sunbathing isn’t on the agenda, but the Dallas County Commission is taking a trip to the beach next week.

Beginning Tuesday, commissioners and Probate Judge Kim Ballard will attend the 86th annual Association of County Commissions of Alabama Conference at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. District 3 commissioner Curtis Williams is the only one not scheduled to attend, said county administrator Barbara Harrell.

Though the trip will be taxpayer funded, Ballard said it’s an educational opportunity to improve the county.

“It’s going to be cutting edge topics,” he said. “Personally I’ve never gone without picking up something. I think it’s money well spent.”

Ballard’s example of a potential takeaway form this year’s conference is a measure that allows ACCA to collect any debts owed to counties. He said Jim Minor Garden Homes, located in Selmont, could be an example of a property that the city could collect debt on.

Several different lectures and forums dot the conference schedule. Among the topics are Prison Reform: If We Fail to Act, Open Meetings Law Refresher, Improving Safety at Railroad Crossings and What We Learned from the Ice Storms.

The conference’s agenda also includes a candidate forum for several statewide offices.

Among the candidates are Gov. Robert Bentley, who is running for re-election, and Democratic candidate for governor Parker Griffith. Candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general are also scheduled to participate.

Harrell said Thursday the county has only paid registration costs for the commissioners at $185 each. Other costs, like hotels, mileage, meals and parking would be reimbursed after the trip, Harrell said.

Ballard used his recent trip to a probate judge’s conference, which wrapped up Wednesday, to estimate costs for the upcoming beach trip. His hotel room was the largest portion of his travel expenses for the probate judge’s conference at just over $550. Though he hadn’t totally added all receipts, Ballard estimated the cost of the probate judge’s trip would be about $750, reimbursed through the county’s various travel line items.

He said the trip to Orange Beach could be similar in cost, as it also runs three days.

Despite travel expenses, Ballard said the conference could also end up making the county money.

Ballard expects two refund checks from the ACCA’s liability and workers compensation self-insurance funds. Last year, Ballard said the liability self-insurance insurance fund, which he chairs, gave Dallas County a $30,000 check.

“By controlling our loss ratios we are able to get these rebate checks,” he said.

Any kind of rebate check would go back into the county’s general fund.