The County Council of Dorchester County may provide that violations
of ordinances authorized to be adopted or enacted by Dorchester County shall
be punishable as misdemeanors, but no penalty shall exceed a fine of $1,000
and imprisonment for six months. Imprisonment in default of fine and costs
shall be regulated by the provisions of Article 38, § 4 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland.
The County Council of Dorchester County may provide that a violation
of any County ordinance is a County infraction unless the violation is declared
to be a felony or a misdemeanor by state law.
For purposes of this chapter, a "County infraction" is a civil offense.
[Added 5-6-2008 by Bill No. 2008-8]
This section shall be known as the "Anti-Deficiency Act."
A. Authorization.
(1) Article 25A, § 5(A)(2) of the Annotated Code
of Maryland; and
(2) Article 25A, § 5(Q)(1) of the Annotated Code
of Maryland.
B. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following
words are defined:
APPROPRIATION
A designated amount of public funds approved for a specific purpose
during a fiscal year within the annual budget ordinance by the County Council
of Dorchester County, Maryland.
C. Prohibited acts. A responsible official Dorchester County,
Maryland may not:
(1) Make or authorize an expenditure or obligation exceeding
an amount available in an appropriation for the expenditure or obligation,
unless authorized by Council; or
(2) Involve Dorchester County, Maryland, in a contract or
obligation for the payment of money before an appropriation is made, unless
authorized by Council.
D. County not liable.
(1) The County may not reimburse any expenditure to the extent that the expenditure violates Subsection
C.
(2) The County is not obligated to appropriate money to pay an expenditure that violates Subsection
C.
E. Penalties and reporting requirements.
(1) Administrative and penal sanctions. A responsible official who violates Subsection
C is guilty of neglect of official duty and is subject to appropriate administrative discipline, including, when circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay or removal from office.
(2) Reporting requirements. Responsible officials who have violated Subsection
C shall immediately report all relevant facts and a statement of actions taken to the County Council.