2016 county budget hearings Aug. 17-19

The exhaustive process of setting Putnam County's 2016 budget now at hand, the Putnam County Council will meet three days next week, Monday Aug. 17 through Wednesday, Aug. 19, for budget reviews, hearings and discussion.

The seven-member council will meet Monday afternoon, all day Tuesday and again Wednesday morning in order to complete the process.

The council's regular monthly meeting is also set for Tuesday evening, although it will be 90 minutes earlier than normal at 5 p.m.

Budget hearings begin at noon on Monday with general discussion. This will be followed at 12:30 p.m. by the reviews of binding and non-binding budgets, including aviation.

Hearings for county departments begin at 1:30 p.m. with superior court, circuit court, adult probation, juvenile probation, public defender and SATP.

Three courthouse offices will follow in short order with the clerk's office (2:30 p.m.), treasurer (2:45) and recorder's office and perpetuation fund (2:55).

The sheriff's department will end the first day of hearings at 3:05 p.m. with a review that will include the jail budget, county correction, DOC funds and animal control.

The council will have a busy day on Tuesday beginning with general discussion at 8 a.m. Things will move quickly throughout the day with 19 items on the agenda before 3 p.m.:

* 8:30 a.m.: Greencastle Schools

* 9 a.m.: Surveyor and perpetuation fund

* 9:15 a.m.: Soil and Water

* 9:25 a.m.: Extension

* 9:40 a.m.: Cemetery

* 9:45 a.m.: County Council

* 10:05 a.m.: Auditor

* 10:15 a.m.: Health department and coroner

* 10:30 a.m. Highway

* 11 a.m.: Assessor

* 11:10 a.m.: Prosecutor

* 11:35 a.m.: GIS office

* 11:45 a.m.: Commissioners, hazardous waste, weights and measures and custodians

* Noon: Lunch

* 1:30 p.m.: Microfilm

* 1:40 p.m.: Plan Commission and building department

* 1:50 p.m.: EMA and LEPC

* 2:10 p.m.: 911 dispatch

* 2:40 p.m.: Veterans Affairs

Following the day and a half of hearings, the council will reconvene at 9 a.m. Wednesday for general discussion.