Chapter 3.08
CITY BUDGET

Sections:

3.08.010    Departmental estimates.

3.08.020    Consultation with finance committee.

3.08.030    Form of budget.

3.08.040    Appropriation ordinance.

3.08.050    Transfer of appropriation.

3.08.060    Expenditures limited by budget.

3.08.010 Departmental estimates.

On or before October 1st of each year, each officer, department or board shall file with the city clerk an itemized statement of disbursements made to carry out the powers and duties of such officer or department during the preceding fiscal year, and a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements on account of any special fund under the supervision of such officer or department during such year, and of the condition and management of such funds; also detailed estimates of the same matters for the current fiscal year and for the ensuing fiscal year. Such statements shall be presented in the form prescribed by the city clerk and shall be designated as the “departmental estimates,” and shall be as nearly uniform as possible for the main divisions of all departments. (Prior code § 3.03(1))

3.08.020 Consultation with finance committee.

The finance committee shall consider such departmental estimates in consultation with the department head and shall then determine the total amount to be recommended in the budget for such department or activity. (Prior code § 3.03(2))

3.08.030 Form of budget.

The finance committee shall prepare and submit to the council a proposed budget, presenting a financial plan for conducting the affairs of the city for the ensuing calendar year. The budget shall include the following information:

A.    The expense of conducting each department and activity of the city for the ensuing fiscal year, and corresponding items for the current year and last preceding fiscal year, compared with appropriations for the current year;

B.    An itemization of all anticipated income of the city from sources other than general property taxes and bond issues with a comparative statement of the amounts received by the city from each of the same or similar sources for the last preceding and current fiscal years. Beginning with the budget for fiscal year 1988, state shared taxes and highway aids shall not be considered in the determination of anticipated income (see Section 70.665, Wisconsin Statutes);

C.    An estimate of the amount of money to be raised from general property taxes which, with income from other sources, will be necessary to meet the proposed expenditures;

D.    Such other information as may be required by the council.

The council shall provide a reasonable number of copies of the budget, thus prepared, for distribution to citizens. (Prior code § 3.03(3))

3.08.040 Appropriation ordinance.

The finance committee shall submit to the council, at the time the annual budget is submitted, the draft of an appropriation ordinance providing for the expenditures proposed for the ensuing fiscal year. Upon the submission of the proposed appropriation ordinance to the council, it shall be deemed to have been regularly introduced therein. The council shall hold a public hearing on the budget and the proposed appropriation ordinance, as required by law. Following the public hearing, the proposed appropriation ordinance may be changed or amended and shall take the same course in the council as other ordinances. (Prior code § 3.03(4))

3.08.050 Transfer of appropriation.

Upon recommendation of the finance committee, the council may, at any time by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership, transfer any portion of an unencumbered balance of an appropriation to any other purpose or object. Notice of such transfer shall be given by publication within fifteen (15) days thereafter in a newspaper in general circulation in the city. (Prior code § 3.03(5))

3.08.060 Expenditures limited by budget.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury of the city nor shall any obligation for the expenditure of money be incurred, except in pursuance of the annual appropriation ordinance or of such ordinance when changed, as authorized by Section 3.08.050. At the close of each fiscal year, any unencumbered balance of any appropriation shall revert to the general fund and shall be subject to reappropriation; but appropriations may be made by the council to be paid out of the income of the current year in furtherance of improvements or other objects or works which will not be completed within such year, and any such appropriation shall continue in force until the purpose for which it was made shall have been accomplished or abandoned. (Prior code § 3.03(6))