Morgan County Commission initiated the review process for its 2013-2014 fiscal budget on Thursday by entertaining appropriation requests from nonprofit organizations.

Budget requests were heard from the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center, Mental Health Center and Decatur Senior Center. While neither specified an amount, they all thanked the commission for its past support and asked for continued funding. The Decatur Senior Center received its last appropriation in 2008.

Commission Chairman Ray Long said department heads are being asked to keep budget requests in line with what they were a year ago.

“We expect our revenues to be at or near what they were in 2012-2013,” Long said. “That is due in part to a shortfall of approximately $300,000 in TVA payments in lieu of taxes and a decline in mortgage recordings.”

He said notices of budget requests were sent to department heads July 23 under a July 31 deadline.

“They will be reviewed and presented to the commission as a preliminary budget at our next meeting on August 13,” Long pointed out. “At the same time, we will begin reviewing budget requests from elected officials.”

The new budget will become effective Oct. 1.