(a) Notice and Hearing. Not more than fifteen (15) days after receipt of the proposed budget from the manager, the council shall publish in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the Township 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 ten (10) days nor more than twenty (20) days after such publication, for a public hearing on the budget.
(b) Amendment Before Adoption. Within ten (10) days after the public hearing, the council may amend the budget. In amending the budget, it may increase programs or amounts and may delete or decrease any 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 of estimated collectable income. Any proposed amendment shall be introduced by resolution. An affirmative vote by a simple majority of the council members shall constitute acceptance of the amendment of the council.
(c) Submission of Amendment to Manager. Upon acceptance of any amendment by the council, the manager shall within three (3) days receive a written copy of the amendment. Within ten (10) days after receipt, the manager shall return the amendment to the council with a written opinion related to the amendment.
(d) Notice and Hearing for Budget Amendment. A public hearing shall be held on all budget amendments, if any, prior to adoption of the budget. The council, within three (3) days after the return of all budget amendments from the manager, shall publish in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the Township the budget amendment(s), and a notice stating the time and place, not less than seven (7) days nor more than fifteen (15) days after such publication, for the public hearing on these amendments.
(e) Adoption of Budget; Appropriation and Tax Levy Ordinances. The council shall adopt the budget on or before the fifteenth day of December of the fiscal year currently ending. Adoption of the budget shall constitute adoption of an ordinance appropriating the amounts specified therein from the funds indicated and an ordinance levying the property tax therein proposed. The effective date of the ordinances shall be the first day of January following adoption.