A.
Prior
to the commencement of each fiscal year, a budget for the City shall
be prepared and the same will be presented to and approved by the
Board of Aldermen.
B.
The
annual budget shall present a complete financial plan for the ensuing
fiscal year and shall include at least the following information:
1.
A budget message describing the important features of the budget
and major changes from the preceding year;
2.
Estimated revenues to be received from all sources for the budget
year, with a comparative statement of actual or estimated revenues
for the two (2) years next preceding, itemized by year, fund and source;
3.
Proposed expenditures for each department, office, commission, and
other classification for the budget year, together with a comparative
statement of actual or estimated expenditures for the two (2) years
next preceding, itemized by year, fund, activity and object;
4.
The amount required for the payment of interest, amortization, and
redemption charges on the debt of the City; and
5.
A general budget summary.
C.
In
no event shall the total proposed expenditures from any fund exceed
the estimated revenues to be received plus any unencumbered balance
or less any deficit estimated for the beginning of the budget year;
provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the
City to use any cash balance as current revenue or to change from
a cash basis of financing its expenditures.
A.
The
budget shall be prepared under the direction of a Purchasing Agent.
Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, the Purchasing Agent
shall be designated by the Board of Aldermen of the City. All officers
and employees shall cooperate with and provide to the Purchasing Agent
such information and such records as he/she shall require in developing
the budget. The Purchasing Agent shall review all the expenditure
requests and revenue estimates, after which he/she shall prepare the
proposed budget as defined herein.
B.
After
the Purchasing Agent has prepared the proposed budget, he/she shall
submit it, along with such supporting schedules, exhibits, and other
explanatory material as may be necessary for the proper understanding
of the financial needs and position of the City, to the Board of Aldermen.
He/she shall submit at the same time complete drafts of such orders,
motions, resolutions or ordinances as may be required to authorize
the proposed expenditures and produce the revenues necessary to balance
the proposed budget.
The Board of Aldermen may revise, alter, increase or decrease
the items contained in the proposed budget, subject to such limitations
as may be provided by law; provided, that in no event shall the total
authorized expenditures from any fund exceed the estimated revenues
to be received plus any unencumbered balance or less any deficit estimated
for the beginning of the budget year. Except as otherwise provided
by law, the Board of Aldermen shall, before the beginning of the fiscal
year, approve the budget and approve or adopt such orders, motions,
resolutions or ordinances as may be required to authorize the budgeted
expenditures and produce the revenues estimated in the budget.
After the City has approved the budget for any year and has
approved or adopted the orders, motions, resolutions or ordinances
required to authorize the expenditures proposed in the budget, the
City shall not increase the total amount authorized for expenditure
from any fund, unless the Board of Aldermen adopts a resolution setting
forth the facts and reasons making the increase necessary and approves
or adopts an order, motion, resolution or ordinance to authorize the
expenditures.
[CC 1979 §22.160]
A.
The
Budget Committee shall prepare the City budget in accordance with
the following calendar:
1.
At least six (6) months before the beginning of a new fiscal year,
the Budget Committee will collect the data necessary and make preliminary
revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year. It will estimate expenditures
for the present year and note expenditures and revenues for the previous
two (2) fiscal years.
2.
At least five (5) months before the beginning of a new fiscal year,
the Budget Committee will request from each City Officer a statement
of expenditures requested for the coming fiscal year.
3.
At least four (4) months before the beginning of a new fiscal year,
the Budget Committee will review the departmental requests and make
its final revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year and will confer
with department heads to discuss these requests.
4.
At least three (3) months before the beginning of a new fiscal year,
the Budget Committee will begin assembling the City budget.
5.
At least two (2) months before the beginning of a new fiscal year,
the Budget Committee will confer with the Mayor, and any such other
officers as the Mayor may designate, for preparation of the City budget
for the next fiscal year to be submitted to the Board of Aldermen.
6.
The budget shall be submitted to the Board of Aldermen at the regular
meeting in the month before the beginning of the fiscal year as designated
by the Board of Aldermen.