Summit County Executive Russ Pry hasn’t even proposed the county budget for next year, but that isn’t stopping County Council from starting budget hearings.
In an unusual move, the council will begin quizzing individual department leaders Monday without having the overall budget document in hand.
Pry is scheduled to deliver the annual spending plan to the council on Nov. 5.
Council President Jerry Feeman said he wanted to get a jump-start on the review process, in part, so the council can hold all the hearings on Mondays.
He added that the budget isn’t expected to change much this year because of the county’s tight finances. If the budget were expected to grow, “there’s no way in the world I would do this,” Feeman said.
The council will focus initially on small departments, Feeman said. The council won’t review the budgets of any elected officials or Children Services until after Election Day.
Last year, Pry proposed a $488 million spending plan.
Jason Dodson, Pry’s chief of staff, declined to comment on the council’s process, saying that the administration is following the same timeline it always has.
The council will review the consumer affairs, soil and water conservation and environmental services budgets on Monday.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.