(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has begun the 2017 county budget process.

The Commission Tuesday heard the first round of funding requests for next year.

While most of the requests were for the same amount of funding as received this year, a slight increase or slight decrease, Sheriff John Merchant requested a $75,000 increase for 2017.

Merchant is requesting a total of nearly $1.5 million for the sheriff’s office, dispatch and jail.  He said included in his budget proposal is funding for the purchase of two new patrol vehicles and a 50 cent an hour raise for employees.

The Commission will hear the remainder of the funding requests next week.

The Commission will then work on drafting a proposed 2017 budget for publication.

The budget is expected to be adopted following a pubic hearing before the end of August.