Council tentatively approved the first group of department budgets in a 6-1 vote with Councilor Vincent Chivaralle casting the sole no vote. The Clerk’s Office, Assessor’s Office, County Council, Municipal Court and Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Police comprised the first group. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Sheriff Marco Lucero told Council that his four deputies served 265 court orders in the last year. He also ask that Council add $25,000 to his budget for the purchase of a work vehicle because he had driven his personnel vehicle 5,3,00 miles in the course of his dutues over the last year. Council denied the increase for the vehicle but tentatively passed his budget. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Chief Deputy Clerk Sheryl Nichols and County Clerk Janet Foster listen as Council votes to tentatively approve their budget. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

County Assessor JoAnn Johnson and Deputy County Assessor Joaquin Valdez listen as their budget is tentatively approved. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Fire Chief Troy Hughes chats with Department of Public Utilities Manager John Arrowsmith, Deputy Utility Manager – Finance & Administration Janet Bettinger, center, and Capital Projects & Facilities Department  Director Anne Laurent during a break in tonight’s proceedings. Council gave tentative unanamous approval to the Fire Department budget and its 2 percent increase. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Police Chief Wayne Torpy listens as Council also gave tentative unanamous approval to his department’s budget with its 3 percent increase. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk answers questions from Council before they tentatively approved his budget 6-1 with Councilor Vincent Chivaralle voting no. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com