The Shelby County Commission may, in its sole discretion, provide additional line item expenses for the district attorney’s office in lieu of other funding provided by the commission from year to year as part of its normal budgeting process. The additional expenses shall be based on need, past history of payments, and the Shelby County Commission’s opinion of the county’s ability to pay and provide additional expenses. (Act 97–575, p. 1019, § 1.)