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Some Gallatin County department heads say they need more money in the proposed 2012 budget.

Today was the first of several public hearings on a preliminary budget that commissioners adopted last week.

"I'm asking for $25,000 to be put back in the budget," said Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Cashell.

Cashell asked for the $25,000 to be put back into the budget for a part time position that takes care of concealed weapons permits.

"That position generates most of our funding and gets us concealed weapons permits out in a timely manner," Cashell said.

And that wasn't the sheriff's only budget concern.

There were a number of items he asked the commissioners to consider putting back in the preliminary budget.

Two people resigned after January and those positions were not put in the start-up budget.

Sheriff Cashell says they are now down about eight deputies and have back-filled two of those positions with grant funded deputies.

"Some of those positions were in the startup budget," Cashell said. "And we've asked to back-fill those positions."

Including that of a court services officer.

"Currently, we aren't providing court and building services the way we were the last few years," Cashell said.

Also, he would like a receptionist position at the detention center and a detention officer.

Sheriff Cashell says with about eight positions down, there will be some dramatic effects.

"Our concentration is going to be to provide emergency response and right now that is difficult to do," Cashell said.

Also having some preliminary budget concerns were district court judges who would like plans for a new law and justice center to continue.

They are requesting to allocate money in the budget to further master a site-plan development.

The judges wrote a letter to commissioners after a meeting on June 29 when they found out plans for a new law and justice center were not included in fiscal year 2012's preliminary budget.

"Their concern is that the project will lose momentum," said District Court Administrator Jan Bjork.

But County Commissioner Bill Murdock says they are not dropping the ball for planning of a new law and justice center.

Public hearings concerning the budget will take place on July 19 and 26 as well as August 9.

Work sessions on the budget will be held on August 10 and 17 with a plan to adopt a final budget on August 30.