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Section 7.01. - Fiscal Year.#
The fiscal year of the City shall begin on October 1, each year and end on the following September 30. The fiscal year may be changed by the City Council by ordinance, provided that no change shall be effective until six (6) months after the passage of such ordinance.
Section 7.02. - Submission of Budget and Budget Message.#
On or before the 15 th day of August of each fiscal year, the City Manager shall submit to the City Council a budget for the ensuing fiscal year, a five (5) year projected operating budget, five (5) year capital program and an accompanying message.
Section 7.03. - Budget Message.#
The City Manager's message shall explain the budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of the work programs. It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the City for the ensuing fiscal year, describe the important features of the budget and indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies, expenditures and revenues together with the reasons for such changes. The message shall also summarize the City's debt position and include such other material as the City Manager deems desirable.
Section 7.04. - Budget.#
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 City Council may require. The budget shall begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in detail all estimated income, indicating the proposed property tax levy, and all proposed expenditures, including debt service, for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. It shall indicate in separate sections as follows: A.
Goals and Objectives. The City Council's goals and objectives as provided for in Section 3.08 and any associated expenditures for current operations during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed for each fund by organization unit and program, purpose or activity, and the method of financing such expenditures; and
B.
Capital Budget. Proposed capital expenditures during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed for each fund by organization unit when practicable, and the proposed method of financing each capital expenditure; and
C.
Enterprise Funds. The anticipated income and expense and profit and loss for the ensuing year for each public utility or other proprietary enterprise fund operated by the City. For any fund, the total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of estimated income plus any fund balance carried forward, exclusive of reserves.
Section 7.05. - City Council Action on Budget.#
The City Council shall comply with state law in the adoption of the budget and, unless otherwise in conflict with state law, shall adopt the budget on or before the last day of the last month of the current fiscal year.
Section 7.06. - Appropriation and Revenue Ordinances.#
To implement the adopted budget, the City Council shall adopt the following prior to the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year: A.
Ordinance Adopting Budget. An ordinance shall be made adopting the budget and making the appropriations set forth therein by department or major organizational unit and authorizing a single appropriation for each program, capital project or activity.
B.
Tax Levy Ordinance. A tax levy ordinance shall be made authorizing the property tax levy or levies and setting the tax rate or rates.
C.
Revenue Ordinances. Any other ordinances required to authorize new revenues or to amend the rates or other features of existing taxes or other revenue sources shall be made.
Section 7.07. - Amendments After Adoption.#
City Council shall comply with any requirements of state law in amending the budget after adoption.
Section 7.08. - Administration of the Budget.#
The City Council shall provide by ordinance the procedures for administering the budget.
Section 7.09. - Overspending of Appropriations Prohibited.#
No payment shall be made or obligation incurred against any allotment or appropriation except in accordance with authorized appropriations and unless the City Manager or his designee first certifies that there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in such allotment or appropriation and that sufficient funds are or will be available to cover the claim or meet the obligation when it becomes due and payable. Any authorization of payment or incurring of obligation in violation of the provisions of this Charter shall be void and any payment made shall be illegal. A violation of this provision shall be cause for removal of any officer who knowingly authorized or made such payment or incurred such obligation. Such officer may also be liable to the City for any amount so paid. Except as prohibited by law, however, nothing in this Charter shall be construed to prevent the making or authorizing of payments or making of contracts for capital improvements to be financed in whole or in part by the issuance of bonds or to prevent the making of any contract or lease providing for payments beyond the end of the fiscal year.
Section 7.10. - Depository.#
All moneys received by any person, department or agency of the City for or in connection with affairs of the City shall be deposited daily in the City depository or depositories. The City Council shall designate depositories in accordance with regulations and subject to security requirements for deposits and accrued interest as may be established by ordinance. All checks, vouchers, or warrants for the withdrawal of money from the City depositories shall be signed by two City officials as designated by the City Council. The City Council may by ordinance authorize the use of machine-imprinted facsimile signatures of the Mayor or City Manager on checks, vouchers and warrants. However, two original signatures shall be required for all checks in excess of $5,000.
Section 7.11. - Purchase Procedure.#
All purchases made and contracts executed by the City shall be completed pursuant to state law.
Section 7.12. - Independent Audit.#
At the close of each fiscal year and at other times as necessary, the City Council shall have a certified public accountant conduct an independent audit of all accounts of the City. The certified public accountant shall have no personal interest in the financial affairs of the City or of its officers. A summary of the results of the completed audit shall be on file in the City Secretary's office as a public record and as files available for download via the Internet.
Section 7.13. - Public Records.#
Copies of the budget, capital program and appropriation and revenue ordinances shall be public records and shall be made available to the public at suitable places in the City and as files available for download via the Internet.