(a) If the County Executive concludes that revenues will be substantially less than the amount required to fund the annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, the County Executive may:
(1) recommend the reduction of one or more appropriations in the annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, except those required by State law and except any provision for debt service on obligations then outstanding or for estimated cash deficits; or
(2) take any other action authorized by State law, this Charter, or any ordinance authorized by this Charter.
(b) (1) When the County Executive recommends the reduction of any appropriation in the annual budget and appropriation ordinance, the County Executive shall cause a proposed budget reduction amendment to be prepared and submitted to the County Council.
(2) A proposed budget reduction amendment shall be submitted in the form of a bill containing the entire annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the current fiscal year, shall show the reductions proposed by the County Executive as amendments to the ordinance, shall be supported by a schedule of revised revenue estimates, and may not provide for any new item of appropriation or any increase in a current appropriation.
(3) A proposed budget reduction amendment shall be filed with the Administrative Officer to the County Council, and a copy shall be delivered to each member of the Council. At least three complete copies shall be open to inspection by the public during regular business hours. One copy shall be supplied to each newspaper of general circulation in the County and to each County library. A copy shall be made available to any interested person on request.
(4) Upon receipt of a proposed budget reduction amendment, the Administrative Officer to the County Council shall cause to be published in at least two newspapers of general circulation published in the County a notice of the place and time of a public hearing by the County Council on the proposed budget reduction. The Council may hold other preliminary public hearings on the budget reduction amendment for the purpose of obtaining information, but no action shall be taken by the Council on the budget reduction amendment, except in public meeting and after the public hearing specified above.
(5) After the public hearing specified in the preceding section, the County Council may decrease or delete any appropriation in the current annual budget and appropriation ordinance, except those required by State law and except any provision for debt service on obligations then outstanding or for estimated cash deficits. The County Council shall have no power to change the form of the annual budget and appropriation ordinance or to alter the amended revenue estimates except to correct mathematical errors. Neither may the County Council increase any expenditure above the amount in the current annual budget and appropriation ordinance. An amended annual budget and appropriation ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage by the Council, and is not subject to executive veto.
(6) The adoption of a budget reduction amendment shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than four members of the County Council on an ordinance to be known as the Amended Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance of Anne Arundel County.
(7) The budget, as amended by an annual budget and appropriation ordinance, shall be reproduced in sufficient copies for distribution, free of charge, to the press and the head of each office, department or agency of the County government. Copies of the amended budget shall likewise be given to any interested person on request; provided, however, that in order to discourage waste the County Council may prescribe a charge for each copy of the amended budget not to exceed the actual cost of its reproduction.
(Res. No. 43-88; Res. No. 43-92)