City of Blue Springs, MO Financial Procedures

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.1]

The Fiscal year of the City shall be established by ordinance.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.2; Ord. No. 4505 § 1 (Charter Amendment No. 2014-02), 8-18-2014, approved at election 11-4-2014]

The budget shall provide a complete financial plan of all City funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year and, except as required by law or this Charter, shall be in such form as the City Administrator deems desirable or the City Council may require. The budget shall indicate in separate sections:

Proposed expenditures for current operations during the ensuing fiscal year and the method of financing such expenditures;

Proposed capital expenditures during the ensuing fiscal year and the proposed method of financing each such capital expenditure; and

Proposed income.

The total proposed expenditure shall not exceed the total of estimated income plus any surplus anticipated to be on hand at the end of the fiscal year then in progress.

Section 7.3 Submission Of Budget.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.3]

At least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the City Administrator shall submit to the City Council a budget.

Section 7.4 Capital Improvement Program.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.4]

Submission To City Council. The City Administrator shall prepare and submit to the City Council a minimum of a five (5) year capital improvement program at least sixty (60) days prior to the final date for submission of the budget.

Contents. The capital improvement program shall include:

A clear general summary of the contents;

A list of all capital improvements which are proposed to be undertaken during the five (5) fiscal years next ensuing, with appropriate supporting information as to the necessity for such improvements;

Cost estimates, method of financing and recommended time schedules for each such improvement; and

The estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining the facilities to be constructed or acquired.

The above information may be revised and extended each year with regard to capital improvements still pending or in process of construction or acquisition.

Section 7.5 City Council Action On Budget.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.5; Ord. No. 4503 § 1 (Charter Amendment No. 2014-03), 8-18-2014, approved at election 11-4-2014]

Notice And Hearing. The City Council shall publish in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the City or prominently display on the City of Blue Springs website a general summary of the budget and a notice stating:

The times and places where copies of the message and budget are available for inspection by the public; and

The time and place, not less than two (2) weeks after such publication, for a public hearing on the budget.

Amendment Before Adoption. After the public hearing, the City Council may adopt the budget with or without amendment. In amending the budget the City Council may add or decrease any programs or amounts, except expenditures required by law or for debt service. No amendment to the budget shall increase the authorized expenditures to an amount greater than the total of estimated income plus any surplus anticipated to be on hand at the end of the fiscal year then in progress.

Adoption. The City Council by ordinance shall adopt the budget on or before the last day of the fiscal year currently ending. If it fails to adopt the budget by this date, the amounts appropriated for current operation for the current fiscal year shall be deemed adopted for the ensuing fiscal year on a month-to-month basis, with all items in it prorated accordingly, until such time as the City Council adopts a budget for the ensuing fiscal year. Adoption of the budget shall constitute appropriations of the amounts specified therein as expenditures from the funds indicated.

Section 7.6 City Council Action On Capital Improvement Program.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.6; Ord. No. 4503 § 1 (Charter Amendment No. 2014-03), 8-18-2014, approved at election 11-4-2014]

The times and places where copies of the capital improvement program are available for inspection by the public; and

The time and place, not less than two (2) weeks after such publication, for a public hearing on the capital improvement program.

Adoption. The City Council by ordinance shall adopt the capital improvement program with or without amendment after the public hearing and on or before the last day of the fiscal year currently ending.

Section 7.7 Public Record.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.7; Ord. No. 4503 § 1 (Charter Amendment No. 2014-03), 8-18-2014, approved at election 11-4-2014]

Copies of the budget and the capital improvement program as adopted shall be public records and shall be made available to the public at suitable places in the City and on the City of Blue Springs website.

Section 7.8 Amendment After Adoption.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.8; Ord. No. 4505 § 1 (Charter Amendment No. 2014-02), 8-18-2014, approved at election 11-4-2014; Ord. No. 4812, 4-15-2019, adopting amendments approved at election 4-2-2019]

Supplemental Appropriations. If during the fiscal year the City Administrator certifies that there are available for appropriation revenues in excess of those estimated in the budget, the City Council by ordinance may make supplemental appropriations for the year up to the amount of such excess.

Reduction Of Appropriations. If at any time during the fiscal year it appears probable to the City Administrator that the revenues available will be insufficient to meet the amount appropriated, the City Administrator shall report to the City Council without delay, indicating the estimated amount of the deficit, any remedial action taken by them and their recommendations as to any other steps to be taken. The City Council shall then take such further action as it deems necessary to prevent or minimize any deficit and for that purpose it may by ordinance reduce one (1) or more appropriations.

Transfer Of Appropriations. At any time during the fiscal year the City Administrator with the written consent of the Mayor may transfer part or all of any unencumbered appropriation balance among programs within a fund, and, upon written request by the City Administrator, the City Council may by ordinance transfer part or all of any unencumbered appropriation balance from one (1) fund to another.

Emergency Appropriations: Effective Date. The supplemental appropriations and reduction or transfer of appropriations authorized by this Section may be made effective immediately upon adoption and may be made by emergency ordinance in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.12(I).

Section 7.9 Tax Rates And Tax Rolls.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.9]

The City Council shall annually by ordinance set the tax rate and levy on the various classes of property. The levy so established shall be certified by the City Clerk to the appropriate official, who shall compute the taxes and extend them upon the tax rolls.

All existing taxes may remain in effect.

Section 7.10 Sale Of Bonds.

[R.O. 1996 § C-7.10]

Except as otherwise required by law or this Charter, all bonds issued by the City shall be sold as prescribed by City ordinance.