A. Proposed Budget: On or before October 20 of each year, the mayor shall prepare and submit to the common council a proposed budget presenting a financial plan for conducting the affairs of the city for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget shall include the following information: (1975 Code Ch. 3 § X; amd. 2009 Code)
1. 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, with reasons for increases and decreases recommended as compared with appropriations for the current year.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Such other information as may be required by the common council. The common council shall provide a reasonable number of copies of the budget thus prepared for distribution to citizens.
B. Budget Hearing: The mayor shall submit to the common 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. The common 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 common council as other ordinances. (1975 Code Ch. 3 § X)
C. Reallocation Or Transfer Of Funds: Upon written recommendation of the mayor, the common council may, at any time by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership, reallocate any portion of any unencumbered balance and appropriation, other than from the contingency fund, to any other purpose or object. Notice of such reallocation shall be given by publication as a class 1 notice under chapter 985, Wisconsin statutes, within ten (10) days of any such reallocation. Transfer of funds from the contingency fund to any other account for any other purpose or object shall not require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership of the common council nor shall notice of such transfer be required to be published as a class 1 notice. (1975 Code Ch. 3 § X; amd. 2009 Code)
D. Appropriation Ordinance: 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 such ordinance when changed as authorized in subsection B of this section. At the close of each fiscal year, any unencumbered balance of an appropriation shall revert to the general fund and shall be subject to reappropriation; but the appropriations may be made by the common 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.
E. Financial Claims Against City Treasury:
1. Payments may be made from the city treasury after the clerk or treasurer-comptroller of the city audits and approves each claim as a proper charge against the treasury, and endorses his or her approval on the claim after determining the following conditions have been met:
a. Funds are available therefor pursuant to the budget approved by the governing body.
b. The item or service covered by such claim has been duly authorized by the proper official, department head, board or commission.
c. The item or service has been actually supplied or rendered in conformity with such authorization.
d. The claim is just and valid pursuant to law.
2. A list of the claims approved, showing date paid, name of claimant, purpose and amount shall be filed with the governing body not less than monthly.
3. Claims for injury or damage against the city, its officers, agents or employees shall not be subject to this procedure. (1975 Code Ch. 3 § X)