(A) Authorization. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes and City Charter § 7.04, Submission of Budget. The City Council requires the city budget calendar as the required time line to meet its needs and those of the outside agencies.
(B) Budget calendar. The following represents the dates to be used as the official budget calendar:
(1) June 1 - 10. The City Manager has the responsibility for preparing the budget, distributes budget calendars, worksheets and notifies departments to begin preparing the next year’s budgets;
(2) June 10 - 15. Department head/supervisors prepare their budgets and the City Manager confers with them;
(3) July 5. Department heads/supervisors submit department budgets to the City Manager;
(4) July 5 - 15. The City Manager assembles department budgets into the preliminary city budget;
(5) July 15. The City Manager submits the preliminary budget to the City Council. The city must give public notice that the Council will hold a budget hearing for discussion of all items in the budget;
(6) July 16 - August 15. The City Council considers the preliminary budget, confers with department head/supervisors, discusses proposed taxes and estimated revenues and makes preliminary budget decisions;
(7) August 1. The city receives information from the state on its levy limits and the amount of local government monies in the form of aid receipts for the next year. Cities will also receive information on any credits they can expect to receive. Cities have a certain number of days from the time they receive notice of their certified amount to file objections with the appropriate state agency as to the accuracy of the amounts to be paid. Dates and types of aids and credits change from time to time and will be determined by Minnesota law;
(8) August 16 - September 14. The City Council must adopt the proposed budget and certify the proposed tax levy. Results of the hearing are furnished to the County Auditor with proposed levy amounts to be used in preparation of “truth in taxation” statements to be mailed at a later date;
(9) November 10. The County Auditor sends out to each parcel property owner the “truth in taxation” statements disclosing the results of the budget process and the proposed property taxes resulting therein;
(10) November 29 - December 29. The City council holds public hearings on the final budget proposals. The Council adopts the budget and resolutions levying taxes to cover the final budget;
(11) After budget adoption. The city posts the adopted budget in the principal municipal building and the city publishes a summary budget statement in an authorized legal newspaper (M.S. § 471.6965);
(12) December 28. Deadline for certifying final property tax levy to the County Auditor (5 working days after December 20). The city shall furnish the County Auditor with a certified copy of the City Council resolution levying taxes. The city should submit the appropriate form(s) to the state, if so required (M.S. § 275.065);
(13) January 1. Implementation of calendar year budget.
(C) Budget checklist for Council. After the City Manager has prepared the preliminary budget, the Council must assume full responsibility for reviewing and approving it in its final form. In this review, the Council should consider several questions:
(1) Does the budget meet the needs of the community? Are there some services which the city should reduce or eliminate or provide funds for new programs or for the expansion of existing programs?
(2) Does it provide proper balance between activities, especially between more essential and less essential services?
(3) Will the work programs assure adequate standards of service?
(4) Is the proposed budget a sound and honest one? Are revenue estimates realistic? Does it include all expenditures and conceivable contingencies? Does it contain a contingency appropriation for emergencies?
(5) Is the budget economical, providing the greatest value per dollar?
(6) Is the budget consistent with the ability and willingness of the citizens to support it?
(7) Does the budget discharge a city’s responsibility for the future? Is it consistent with the city plan and with other long-term policies for the development of the community and a 5 year capital improvement program?
(8) The Council should consider these questions after tentatively agreeing on the budget as a whole.
(Ord. 306, passed 3-11-2002)