The first session of the city's 2011 budget hearings are underway at City Council (watch all the excitement in streaming video here). All was kissy-kissy when Mayor Mitch Landrieu presented his budget overview last week, but it's nuts-and-bolts time and Deputy Mayor Andy Kopplin is being peppered with some pretty specific questions by councilmembers.

Below the jump is a list of this week's committee discussions, but here's a downloadable agenda of all that's to be discussed before the mayor's office and the council in the next few weeks.

According to the New Orleans city charter, a budget must be finalized by Dec. 1.

Monday, October 25
Result Area: Budget Overview, Tax Levy (includes presentation on special tax districts) and Revenue Budget
Committee: Budget

Tuesday, October 26
Result Area: Children and Families
Committees: Budget, Youth & Recreation and Health Care & Social Services

Wednesday, October 27
Result Area: Economic Development
Committees: Budget, Economic Development & Special Development Projects

Result Area: Innovation
Committees: Budget and Governmental Affairs

Thursday, October 28
Result Area: Sustainable Communities, Part 1
Committees: Budget, Economic Development & Special Development Projects, Public Works, Housing & Human Needs and Transportation