The fiscal year of the City shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December on each year unless changed by ordinance.
The proposed operating budget shall be a line item budget or another type of budget authorized by ordinance and shall contain sufficient information on intended accomplishments to allow adequate appraisal of the work of each unit of government during the fiscal year.
The operating and capital budgets shall be prepared by the mayor. The mayor or a representative of the mayor shall conduct public hearings to obtain the advice of other officials and citizens as part of the preparation of both budgets. The mayor shall, at least ten days in advance of the commencement of public hearings, provide notice of the time and place of the hearings by publication in a newspaper circulated generally in the City.
On the second Monday of the eleventh month of each fiscal year, the mayor shall present both proposed budgets to council with a message explaining them. Council shall adopt by resolution an operating budget and a capital budget before the end of each fiscal year.
The adoption of the capital or operating budget shall constitute an appropriation or setting apart of funds from general resources of the City for the purpose set forth in the budget.
Council may amend by resolution the operating budget within five weeks after the close of the fiscal year, but not thereafter except with the approval of the mayor. Council at all times may by resolution transfer funds from one code account to another if the total budget amount is not exceeded. The operating budget shall, in any event, remain balanced at all times. The capital budget may by resolution be amended by council at any time.
The capital budget shall be based on a proposed six year capital program which shall be updated each year and submitted to council by the mayor at least thirty days prior to the day the capital budget is submitted.
Every contract relating to city affairs shall be authorized by resolution of council. No contract shall be entered into or executed directly by council or any committee of council.
All contracts shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder except:
a. 
purchases at public sale or governed by tariffs on file with Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission;
b. 
contracts for personal or professional services;
c. 
contracts with political subdivision, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States Government, or any quasi-public agency or authority; or
d. 
purchases of personal property where by reason of patents or copyrights the required type of item is available from only one seller.
Unless the amount is increased by ordinance, each contract subject to competitive bids exceeding two thousand dollars shall be awarded by sealed bid procedure. Invitations for bids shall include reasonable public notice by advertisement in a newspaper circulated generally in the City. All bids shall be filed sealed in the controller's office and shall be opened for the first time and announced publicly at the time and place designated in the notice. Unless the amount is increased by ordinance, a contract subject to competitive bids involving two thousand dollars or less may be awarded on oral or letter bids, or on specific prices set forth in the seller's literature.
No contract entered into by the city after the effective date of this charter shall be enforceable in any manner against the City unless the contract is in compliance with law and the provisions of this charter. However, council, by resolution approved by two-thirds of its members and the mayor, may authorize payment of a claim for services rendered or materials furnished in reliance on contracts made by city officers or agents in good faith without authority or in excess of authority so long as the contract could have been properly authorized.
Council, by ordinance, may establish standards for the waiver of any performance bond required of a contractor provided that the contractor is responsible and pays to the City upon award of the contract an amount equal to the prevailing premium rates. All payments shall be deposited in the general fund of the City.
Thirty-five percent (35%) of all employee works hours performed under Covered Contracts shall be performed by City residents.
Covered Contracts are construction contracts exceeding $200,000 where the City is a party, funded by City or non-City funds.
The City shall encourage employment goals consistent with its current equal opportunity practices.
Council shall, by ordinance, designate and establish an Equal Opportunity Review Commission, enumerating its powers and duties, to review and approve construction contracts and contractors' compliance with city policies regarding minority and women participation.