Within sixty (60) days after the commencement of each
fiscal year, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall make an itemized
statement, in writing, of the estimated revenues and expenditures of the City
for the fiscal year, which shall be known as its "annual estimate"; provided,
however, that, if in the City the taxes for state, county and City purposes
are included in one (1) levy, the Common Council may, by ordinance, direct
that said estimate be made within sixty (60) days prior to the commencement
of such fiscal year. The estimate of revenues shall contain an estimate of
the probable revenues which, in the judgment of the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment, will be received by the City during the fiscal year, less the
amount required to be deposited to the credit of the sinking fund, if any;
a statement of the amount of the sinking fund which, in the judgment of the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment, is available and should be applied to
the payment of the principal of any bonded indebtedness of the City falling
due during said fiscal year; and a statement of all unexpended balances or
estimated unexpended balances of the previous fiscal year remaining to the
credit of the City, or of any office, board or department thereof. The estimate
of expenditures shall contain an estimate of the several amounts of money
which the Board of Estimate and Apportionment deems necessary to provide for
the expenses of conducting the business of the City in each board, department
and office thereof and for the various purposes contemplated by this chapter
and otherwise by law for said fiscal year; to pay the principal and interest
of any bonded or other indebtedness of the City falling due during said fiscal
year; and the amount of any judgments recovered against the City and payable
during said fiscal year. After said annual estimate shall have been completed,
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment shall submit the same in final form
to the Common Council with a statement, in writing, of such reasons for such
estimate as it may deem proper. The Common Council shall, as soon thereafter
as may be possible, convene and consider said estimate. It shall give a public
hearing to such persons as wish to be heard in reference thereto. After such
hearing, and within fifty (50) days after such estimate shall have been submitted
to it, the Common Council shall adopt such estimate so submitted or shall
diminish or reject any items therein contained and adopt said estimate as
so amended. The Common Council shall not have the power to diminish or reject
any item which relates to salaries, the indebtedness or estimated revenues,
or the sums directed by the Board of Supervisors of the county within which
the City is situated to be levied within the City for state and county purposes,
or the sums lawfully payable within said fiscal year upon judgments; nor shall
the Common Council increase any item, for any purpose, contained in said estimate.