The Hamilton County Commission wrapped up the first of three days of budget hearings today, and commissioners said they were pleased with what they didn’t see: multiple requests for large funding increases.
The commission breezed through more than a dozen departmental presentations and had few questions for most of the employees and officials presenting their level funding requests.
“It’s perfect, when you don’t have any money,” Chairman Curtis Adams said. “All of our budget hearings will be like this one today.”
Mayor Claude Ramsey had suggested people keep requests level with the current $627 million budget. Presenters took him at his word.
“I’m very pleased many of the office holders took that seriously,” he said. “It’s a very tight year.”
The budget hearings will continue Tuesday and will conclude Thursday. The county is required to pass a budget by June 30 but may opt instead to pass a continuation budget.
For more on this story read Tuesday’s edition of the Times Free Press.