The fiscal year of the municipality shall commence
on the first day of January and conclude on the last day in December
of each year.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
Prior to the first Monday of November of each year the Mayor
shall present to the Council the proposed budget for the next fiscal
year and an accompanying budget message. The budget shall be a complete
financial plan for the municipality, shall consist of an operating
budget and a capital budget, and shall include the anticipated revenues
and expenditures of all funds of the municipal government. It shall
include the tax levies necessary to produce anticipated revenues.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
The Mayor's budget message shall explain the programs to be
undertaken and their financial implication. It shall 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 Mayor deems
desirable.
The budget shall be a public record available
for public inspection after submission to the Council and prior to
adoption, and after adoption, during regular business hours.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
Not less than seven (7) days prior to the calling of the budget
hearing, a notice of the time and place of the public hearing on the
budget shall be published in a newspaper circulating generally within
the Municipality. This meeting shall be held no later than the third
Monday of December.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
Upon completion of the public hearing, but not later than December
31 of the year in which the proposed budget is submitted, Council
shall adopt the budget by ordinance with or without amendment. Council
may add to, delete from, increase or decrease any appropriation item
in the operating or capital budget. No amendment to the budget shall
increase authorized expenditures to an amount greater than the total
of estimated income and cash reserve unless action is also taken to
increase revenue to such a level. No amendment shall change expenditures
required by law or for debt service or for any estimated unpaid obligations.
The budget as adopted shall be of public record and shall become effective
on January 1 of the following year, without regard to Section 213B
of this Charter.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
If the Council fails to adopt a budget on or before December
31 of the year in which the budget is submitted, the proposed budget
as submitted by the Mayor shall stand adopted.
Funds for the proposed expenditures shall stand appropriated
to the same extent as if favorable action thereon had been taken by
Council.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
Upon adoption of the budget by the Council, it shall be delivered
within three (3) days to the Mayor, who within five (5) days thereafter
may veto or change any item contained in it. If the Mayor vetoes or
changes any item in the budget, he shall return it to the Council
with reasons for his veto or change stated in writing. The Council
may re-approve any item over the veto or change of the Mayor within
ten (10) days with an affirmative vote of a majority plus one of the
total number of the Council.
When the budget shall have been finally adopted,
the Council shall thereupon establish such tax rates as required by
the budget so that the budget shall be balanced as to revenue and
expenditures.
A.
At any time during the fiscal year the Mayor may make
transfers of unencumbered funds within departments and shall report
such transfers promptly to the Council.
B.
Council may by ordinance increase or decrease maximum
expenditures in any department or make transfers between departments
within the limitations of this Charter.
To meet a public emergency as declared by the
Mayor, the Council may, by emergency ordinance, make emergency appropriations
from contingent funds, revenue received from budgeted sources but
in excess of estimates, revenue received from sources not budgeted,
or revenue from any other source available to the municipality in
an emergency.
[Amended 10-2-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
Prior to the first Monday of October of each year, the Mayor
shall submit to the Council a comprehensive long-range plan for public
services, capital improvements, and fiscal policy. Final Council adoption
of the long-range plan shall occur prior to adoption of the annual
budget.
No payment shall be made or obligation incurred against any
appropriation unless there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in
such appropriation. No payment of any funds of the municipality shall
be made except upon approval of the Mayor or his designee. Directives
for payment so approved shall be certified to the Municipal Administrator
or any other person designated by the Mayor who shall be responsible
for the preparation of checks or drafts of the municipality in conformity
with the directives for payment so approved. In order to be valid,
all checks and/or drafts of the municipality shall bear the signature
of any two (2) of the four (4) officials of the municipality hereinafter
designated from time to time by the Mayor. Designated signatories
for all cehcks an/or[1] drafts of the municipality are the Mayor, Municipal Administrator,
Financial Secretary or Municipal Secretary.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
Every appropriation, except an appropriation
for a capital expenditure, shall lapse at the close of the fiscal
year to the extent that it has not been expended or encumbered. An
appropriation for a capital expenditure shall continue in force until
the purpose for which it was made has been accomplished, but it shall
lapse if three years pass without any disbursement from or encumbrance
of the appropriation.
[Amended 5-26-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-3]
The Council shall provide for an independent annual audit of
all municipal revenues and accounts by a certified public accountant
who has no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs
of the municipal government or any of its elected or appointed officers.
The Council may provide for more frequent audits, as well as special
audits, as it deems necessary. The results or[1] the annual audit and the financial statement of the fiscal
affairs of the municipality shall be presented to the Council and
published in a newspaper circulating generally in the municipality
by September 1 following the fiscal year audited.
[1]
Editor’s Note: So in original.
