Effective October 1, 2012, and each October 1 thereafter, the Blount County Commission may provide the Sheriff of Blount County with an expense allowance for the fiscal year equal to the monthly expense allowance received by a county commission member, provided the county commission has approved the payment of the expense allowance for that fiscal year. The expense allowance provided by this section shall be paid monthly from the county general fund in the same manner as other salaries and expense allowances are paid and shall be in addition to any other salary and expense allowance of the sheriff.