Section 46. Appropriation Ordinance - Hearings.
   Upon receipt of the Mayor's budget estimate, the Council shall at once prepare an appropriation ordinance, using the Mayor's budget estimate as a basis. Provisions shall be made for public hearings upon the appropriation ordinance before a committee of the Council, or before the entire Council sitting as a committee of the whole. Following the public hearings and before final passage, the appropriation ordinance shall be published in the City Journal with a separate schedule setting forth the items asked for in the Mayor's budget estimate which were refused or changed by the Council, and the reasons for such change or refusal. The Council shall not pass the appropriation ordinance until fifteen (15) days after its publication, nor before the first Monday in January. The annual appropriation ordinance and any amendment or supplement thereto shall be in the form prescribed by the Revised Code of Ohio, and the amounts appropriated shall be subject to the limitations therein set forth. Adoption of the annual appropriations measure shall be subject to Sections 43(A) and 43(B) of this Charter.
   Unless the ordinance specifically provides otherwise in any instance, not more than one- half of any appropriation shall be expended before the first day of July in the current year.
(Amended by electors 11-3-92)