(a) Notice and Hearing. The Council shall publish using one (1) or more media of general circulation in the Municipality the general summary of the budget and a notice stating:
(1) The times and places where copies of the message and budget are available for inspection by the public and,
(2) The time and place, not less than two (2) weeks after such publication, for a public hearing on the budget.
(b) Amendment Before Adoption. After the public hearing, the Council may adopt the budget with or without amendment. In amending the budget, it may increase or decrease programs or amounts, except expenditures required by law or for debt service or for estimated cash deficit, provided that no amendment to the budget shall increase the authorized expenditures to an amount greater than the total estimated resources.
(c) Adoption. The Council shall adopt the budget on or before the thirty-first (31st) day of the twelfth (12th) month of the fiscal year currently ending. If it fails to adopt the budget by this date, the amounts appropriated for current operation for the current fiscal year shall be deemed adopted for the ensuing fiscal year on a month-to-month basis, with all items in it prorated accordingly, until such time as the Council adopts a budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
(Amended 11-6-01; 11-6-12; 11-2-21)