FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Budget meetings with department heads began this morning and are expected to conclude tomorrow afternoon.

At the start of Monday’s meeting, the budget committee removed proposed merit raises from the budget, pending a study on city-wide salary issues.

The five-person committee was scheduled to hear today from the heads of the following departments: public works, police, senior services, recreation, golf, information technology, gas, electric and water/sewer.

Tomorrow the committee is scheduled to hear from the administrative department, library and finance departments. Departments not presenting to the committee include planning and human resources.

The committee is scheduled to meet Friday to develop a revised budget based on information developed at the the meetings today and tomorrow.

According to the committee’s schedule, the draft budget will be presented to the mayor on Aug. 11 and to the City Council on Aug. 22, which is expected to adopt a final budget prior to Oct. 1, when the 2012 fiscal year begins.