The fiscal year of the City of Carrollton shall begin on October 1 of each calendar year and will end on September 30 of the following calendar year. The fiscal year will also be established as the accounting and budget year.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987)
The city manager, prior to August 1 of each year, shall prepare and submit the budget, covering the next fiscal year, to the council, which shall contain the following information. In preparing this budget, each employee, officer, board and department shall assist the city manager by furnishing all necessary information.
(1) 
The city manager's budget message shall outline the proposed financial policies for the next fiscal year with explanations of any major changes from previous years in expenditures and any major changes of policy and a complete statement regarding the financial condition of the city.
(2) 
An estimate of all revenue from taxes and other sources, including the present tax structure rates and property evaluations for the ensuing year.
(3) 
A carefully itemized list of proposed expenditures by fund and service type and project for the budget year, as compared to actual expenditures of the last ended fiscal year, and an estimate of final expenditures for the current fiscal year.
(4) 
A description of all outstanding bond indebtedness, showing amount, date of issue, rate of interest and maturity date, as well as any other indebtedness referred to in Article V, which the city has incurred and which has not been paid.
(5) 
A statement proposing any capital expenditures deemed necessary for undertaking during the next budget year and recommended provision for financing.
(6) 
A list of capital projects which should be undertaken within the five (5) next succeeding years.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987; Am. Ordinance 2364 adopted 8/11/1998)
The budget and all supporting schedules shall be filed with the city secretary when submitted to the council and shall be open to public inspection by anyone interested.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987)
The council shall name the date and place of a public hearing, to be held in compliance with State law.
Public notice of the hour, date, and place of such hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of the city as provided by State law. At the public hearing, interested citizens of the city may be present and express their opinions concerning items of expenditures and revenue, giving their reasons for wishing to increase or decrease any item.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987; Am. Ordinance 2364 adopted 8/11/1998; Charter Am. adopted 5/11/2021)
After public hearing, the council shall analyze the budget, making any additions or deletions which they feel appropriate, and shall, at least ten (10) days prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year, adopt the budget by a favorable majority vote of all members of the council.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987)
On final adoption, the budget shall be in effect for the budget year. Final adoption of the budget by the council shall constitute the official appropriations as proposed expenditures for the current year and shall constitute the basis of the official levy of the property tax as the amount of tax to be assessed and collected for the corresponding tax year. Estimated expenditures will in no case exceed proposed revenue plus fund balance. The city manager may transfer unused appropriations between any appropriation category within a fund.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 2364 adopted 8/11/1998)
When recommended by the city manager and in the discretion of the council, the budget may contain a reasonable sum set aside as an unallocated reserve fund to meet unexpected and unforeseen contingencies in current operating costs of any budget service type or project.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987)
In case of grave public necessity, emergency expenditures to meet unusual and unforeseen conditions, which could not by reasonable diligent thought and attention, have been included in the original budget, may from time to time be authorized by the council as amendments to the original budget. This shall not prevent the council from making changes in the budget for municipal purposes. Any amendment providing for additional expenditure shall also provide for reductions in other expenditures, supplemental revenues or reduction in fund balance to fund such amendments. These amendments shall be by ordinance, and shall become an attachment to the original budget.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987; Am. Ordinance 2364 adopted 8/11/1998)
A copy of the budget, as finally adopted, shall be filed with the city secretary, the county clerk of Dallas, Denton and Collin Counties and the Carrollton Public Library. Sufficient copies of the final budget shall be made available for the use of all offices, agencies and for the use of interested persons and civic organizations.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987; Am. Ordinance 2364 adopted 8/11/1998)
Errors or defects in the form or preparation of the budget or the failure to perform any procedural requirements shall not nullify the tax levy or the tax rate.
(Adopted by electorate, 9/19/1961; Am. Ordinance 1361 adopted 4/7/1987)