The fiscal year of the Borough shall begin on the first day
of January and end on the last day of December of each year.
On or before the first day of December of each year, the Borough
Manager shall submit to the Borough Council a proposed budget for
the ensuing fiscal year and an accompanying message.
The Borough Manager's accompanying budget message shall
explain the budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of programs.
It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the Borough for
the ensuing fiscal year; describe the important features of the budget;
indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies,
expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons for such changes;
summarize the Borough's debt position; and include such other
material as the Borough Manager deems desirable or as the Borough
Council requests.
The budget shall be adopted and may be amended from time to
time in accordance with the following provisions:
A. Preparation of budget. Beginning at least 30 days prior to adoption,
the budget for the ensuing year shall be prepared. The proposed budget
shall be kept on file with the Borough Secretary and by him be made
available for public inspection for a period of 10 days.
B. Notice of proposed budget. Notice that the proposed budget is available
for inspection shall be published by the Borough Secretary in a newspaper
of general circulation in the Borough.
C. Revision and completion of budget. After the expiration of the said
10 days, Council shall make such revision in the budget as shall be
deemed advisable. Expenditures of a legislative character shall be
made, authorized or ratified by ordinance. Other expenditures allowed
by law may be made or ratified by motion in Council. Such expenditures,
whether by ordinance or motion, shall then be considered as appropriations
affecting the budget. Any balance of revenues over expenditures may
be expended in any subsequent year for any lawful purpose.
D. Adoption of budget. Upon completion of the budget and its adoption
by motion in Council, which shall not be later than December 31, it
shall be the duty of the Council to adopt an ordinance levying the
taxes for the fiscal year for approval of the Mayor or passage over
his veto. A copy of the budget, together with the Tax Ordinance, shall
be filed with the Department of Community Affairs by the Secretary
of the Borough, within 15 days after the adoption of the Tax Ordinance.
E. Amending budget. During the month of January next following any municipal
election, the Council of the Borough may amend the budget and tax
rate to conform with its amended budget. A period of 10 days public
inspection at the office of the Borough Secretary of the proposed
amended budget after notice by the Borough Secretary to that effect
is published once in a newspaper as provided by law shall intervene
between the proposed amended budget and the adoption thereof. Any
amended budget must be adopted by Council on or before the fifteenth
day of February. Within 15 days after the adoption of an amended budget,
the Borough Secretary shall file a copy thereof in the office of the
Department of Community Affairs.
F. Modification of budget. In any year, the Council in its reasonable
discretion may, by motion, modify the budget after its final adoption.
New appropriations, supplementary appropriations and transfers from
one appropriation to another may be made during the fiscal year, either
before or after the expenditure is authorized or ratified after the
expenditure is made, provided that it is within the current year's
revenues or the money therefor is promptly made available through
borrowing as allowed by law.
G. Revenue sharing provisions. The following procedure applies for the
general revenue sharing portion of the budget:
(1) Proposed use hearing. The Borough Manager shall hold a hearing at
least seven days prior to presenting the budget to Borough Council.
At such hearing, the public may present oral and/or written comments
on the possible uses for revenue sharing funds. At least 10 days prior
to such proposed use hearing, a public notice shall be advertised
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough according to
law stating the date, time and place of the hearing and the amount
of revenue sharing funds to be budgeted.
(2) Introduction of budget. The Borough Manager shall, after the expiration
of seven calendar days following the proposed use hearing, introduce
the budget to Borough Council.
(3) Budget hearing and notice. At least 10 days prior to adoption of
the budget by Borough Council, a public notice shall be advertised
in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough according to
law stating the time and place of the budget hearing, the place the
proposed budget may be inspected, a summary of the budget by major
category and the amount of revenue sharing funds, if any, that will
be a part of the total for each category.
(4) Post adoption budget summary. Within 30 days of final adoption of
the budget, a public notice shall be advertised in a newspaper of
general circulation in the Borough according to law stating that a
summary of the budget is available for inspection.