The City Council shall determine the fiscal year of the City.
Before the beginning of each fiscal year, the City Manager shall submit to the Mayor and Council a budget for the ensuing fiscal year and an accompanying message.
(Ord. No. 28081 Question 1, 8-25-08; Ord. No. 28115 Question 1, 12-8-08)
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 Manager deems desirable or the Council may require. In no event shall the total proposed expenditures exceed the estimated revenues to be received plus any unencumbered cash reserves estimated to be on hand at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year.
(Ord. No. 28081 Question 1, 8-25-08; Ord. No. 28115 Question 1, 12-8-08)
(a) 
Submission to Council. The City Manager shall prepare and submit to the Mayor and Council a five (5) year capital program prior to the final date for submission of the budget. The Council by resolution shall adopt the capital program with or without amendment on or before the last day of the month of the current fiscal year.
(b) 
Contents. The capital program shall include:
(1) 
A clear general summary of its contents;
(2) 
A list of all capital improvements that are proposed to be undertaken during the five (5) fiscal years next ensuing, with appropriate supporting information as to the necessity for such improvements;
(3) 
Cost estimates, method of financing and recommended time schedules for each such improvement; and
(4) 
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.
(Ord. No. 28081 Question 1, 8-25-08; Ord. No. 28115 Question 1, 12-8-08)
(a) 
Notice and Hearing. The Council shall publish in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the City a general summary of the budget and a notice stating:
(1) 
The times and places where copies of the message and budget are available for inspection by the public, and
(2) 
The time and place, not less than two (2) weeks after such publication, for a public hearing on the budget.
(b) 
Amendment Before Adoption. After the public hearing, the Council may adopt the budget with or without amendment. In amending the budget, it may add or increase programs or amounts and may delete or decrease any programs or amounts, except expenditures required by law or for debt service or for elimination of a projected cash deficit.
(c) 
Adoption. The Council by ordinance shall adopt the budget on or before the last day of the month 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 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.
Copies of the budget and the capital program as adopted shall be public records and shall be made available to the public at suitable places in the City. The Council shall publish annually, in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the City, a summary accounting of the receipts and expenditures for the preceding year.
(a) 
Supplemental Appropriations. If during the fiscal year the City Manager certifies that there are available for appropriation revenues in excess of those estimated in the budget, the Council by ordinance may make supplemental appropriations for the year up to the amount of such excess.
(b) 
Reduction of Appropriations. If at any time during the fiscal year it appears probable to the City Manager that the revenues available will be insufficient to meet the amount appropriated, the City Manager shall report to the Council without delay, indicating the estimated amount of the deficit, any remedial action taken by the City Manager, and recommendations as to any other steps to be taken. The Council then shall 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.
(c) 
Transfer of Appropriations. At any time during the fiscal year, the City Manager may transfer part or all of any unencumbered appropriation balance among programs within a department, office or agency and, upon written request by the City Manager, the Council may by ordinance transfer part or all or any unencumbered appropriation balance from one department, office or agency to another.
(d) 
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 3.13(g).
(Ord. No. 99040 Prop. 10, 8-23-99; Ord. No. 99065 Prop. 10, 11-8-99; Ord. No. 28081 Question 1, 8-25-08; Ord. No. 28115 Question 1, 12-8-08)
By the statutory deadline, the Council shall by ordinance set the tax rates and levy on the various classes of property, and the levy so established shall be certified by the City Clerk to the appropriate officials, who shall compute the taxes and extend them upon the tax rolls.
(Ord. No. 28045 Question 3, 5-19-08; Ord. No. 28083 Question 3, 8-25-08)
The City shall be authorized to sell any bonds as may now or hereafter be authorized by law. Except as otherwise required by law or this Charter, all bonds issued by the City shall be sold as prescribed by ordinance.