Online, see proposals for county budget

Each Monday, The Eagle highlights a government record that is available to the public. Open records help people keep government in check and help them better understand how government affects their lives.

For a complete list of You Oughta Know columns, go to www.kansas.com/oughta.

The record: Sedgwick County manager William Buchanan's recommended budget for next year.

Why you'd want it: To learn more about how the county plans to shoulder revenue declines and a drop in state funding, and where it plans to make cuts.

The first public hearing on the budget will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the commission's chambers on the third floor of the courthouse, 525 N. Main. A second hearing, when the commission will adopt the final budget, is Aug. 5.

Where you get the records: Much of the budget is online at the county's Web site, www.sedgwickcounty.org. Click on the "2010 recommended budget" link.

How much it will cost: The information is free.