§ 3-115. Consideration and Adoption of the Annual Operating Budget Ordinance.

(1)

The Council, upon receipt of the operating budget, shall immediately publish a notice in the official journal, setting forth:

(a)

A summary of the official forecast of the Revenue Estimating Conference, a summary of the proposed budget of revenues, and a summary of the estimated expenditures.

(b)

The detail of recommended new sources of revenue or increased rates for existing taxes, licenses, fees, or other revenues.

(c)

The availability of copies of the budget at the office of the Clerk of Council.

(d)

The date, time, and place at which the Council will commence its public hearings upon the proposed budget, which shall not begin sooner than the fifth business day after the date of the publication of such notice.

(2)

The Council, upon conclusion of the public hearings but not later than the first day of December, shall adopt the operating budget ordinance in the form submitted by the Mayor and in accordance with Section 6-201(2)(b) of this charter, but it may increase, decrease, or delete any item of appropriation recommended by the Mayor. Upon concurrence of two-thirds of its members, it may add new items of appropriation or subdivide items of appropriation, provided, however, that all appropriations for personal services shall be made only in lump sum amounts and not by specific positions or rates of pay, except as otherwise provided by applicable law.

(3)

Amendments to the annual operating budget ordinance shall be considered and approved by the Council under the same procedures prescribed for its original adoption, but no amendment shall increase the aggregate of authorized expenditures to an amount greater than the estimate of revenues for the year. No state law, executive order, rule, or regulation requiring increased expenditures for any purpose that requires approval of the City shall become effective until approved by an ordinance identifying the legislative appropriation, local revenue, or other specific source of funds from which such increased expenditures shall be paid and only after affording the Revenue Estimating Conference a period of seven days within which to review and comment on the proposed source of funds.