EATON —The Preble County Commissioners spent the week of Thanksgiving hosting initial budget hearings for Preble County departments for the 2016 calendar year.

Initial budget hearings were held on Monday, Nov. 23, Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25 and were set to continue on Monday, Nov 30, Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2, at which point the board looks to begin establishing official budgets.

Commissioners face higher budgets do to a 27th pay period in 2016. According to commissioners, every 11 years employees who are paid on a bi-weekly basis are granted an additional pay period for the year.

According to Commission Clerk Connie Crowell, commissioners hope to give direction on the budgets by either Tuesday, Dec. 1 or Wednesday, Dec. 2 at which point an appropriation could be drawn up for approval.

Crowell did not estimate the total budget, saying a potential for a swing in the budget still exists. Crowell mentioned the Board of Elections and Preble County Sheriff as two departments looking at the largest increase.

The Board of Elections is facing the cost of new equipment, some of which may be reimbursed, according to Crowell.

Commissioners are also entering the final year of several bond payments as the Ag Society Retirement Bond will be closed in December of 2016 after 20 years, and payments on the Gates Ditch will also be finalized in the upcoming year.