It’s the middle of August and time again for Freeborn County to set its budget for the next year.

Every county department, along with other community organizations and agencies, will present their expenditures to the county this week.

Budgeting is a lengthy process, according to county Finance Manager Bill Helfritz, as the county’s overall budget comprises 199 pages of information to sift through.

Helfritz is the one who sorts and organizes the information.

When it comes to budgeting, it’s important to know where each department stands with monetary needs now so the county may provide services in the future, he said. If departments or organizations request funds in the middle of the summer, there is not likely to be any money reserved for them.

County departments are limited to 15- or 30-minute presentations, outside agencies must keep their presentations to a 15-minute maximum. The presentations allow each department and organization to explain to the county board what’s different and new with their programs and what the county can expect in the up-coming year. They provide proposed budgets, which Helfritz then applies to the overall budget. He then presents the complete budget to the commissioners, who have the final vote on where money should be allocated.

&uot;It gives everybody an equal playing field,&uot; said Helfritz. &uot;Most of these are legitimate requests, but we can’t fund them all.&uot;

County departments will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday

and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday. Other organizations and agencies will have from 1 to 4:30 p.m. to present.

There is still time for agencies to sign up for slots on Thursday. The agencies will be checked for legitimacy. Call Denise at 377-5116 to sign up for a slot.

The next meeting, to discuss the overall budget review, is scheduled Aug. 25 and 26.

(Contact Ann Austin at ann.austin@albertleatribune.com or 379-3435.)