Explanation: Capitals indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill
(Charter Amendment)
Introduced by: President Mosby
A Resolution Entitled
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council concerning
title
Charter Amendment - Board of Estimates - Revenue Certification
For the purpose of requiring the Board of Estimates to hold a certain hearing to present certain fiscal estimates; requiring the Board to provide certain final fiscal estimates; making conforming changes; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the City for adoption or rejection.
body
By proposing to amend
Article VI - Board of Estimates
Section 3
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, That the City Charter is proposed to be amended to read as follows:
Baltimore City Charter
Article VI. Board of Estimates
§ 3. Fiscal year; Budget schedule.
(a) Fiscal year.
The fiscal, budget, and accounting year of the City shall begin on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June in every year unless otherwise provided by law.
(b) Revenue Certification.
(1) Preliminary revenue certification.
No later than February 15 of each calendar year, the Department of Finance shall present to the City Council at a public hearing:
(i) preliminary revenue estimates for the upcoming fiscal year from all existing sources of revenue other than the full rate of property tax, including:
(A) amounts believed to be collectible from taxes for prior
years; and
(B) an estimate of the surplus expected at the end of the current
fiscal year, if any;
(ii) the estimated taxable basis for the next ensuing fiscal year for:
(A) the level of full rate property taxes;
(B) new sources of revenue; and
(C) new rates on existing sources of revenue; and
(iii) the rate for the levy of full rate property taxes which, accounting
for any new sources of revenue or new rates on existing sources of
revenue, will be necessary to bring total expected revenues for the
next fiscal year into balance with total anticipated expenditures
for the year.
The estimates required under this paragraph (1) shall be subject to change based on updated data from the Maryland General Assembly and the federal government.
(2) Final revenue certification.
No later than April 15 of each calendar year, the Department of Finance shall provide final revenue estimates and identify and provide an explanation of changes from the preliminary certification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, if any.
(c) [(b)] Notice and hearing.
At least thirty days prior to the adoption by the Board of Estimates of a proposed Ordinance of Estimates the Board shall make public the Director of Finance’s recommended operating budget, the Planning Commission’s recommended capital budget and long-range capital improvement program, and the reports of the Director of Finance and Planning Commission on these documents.
Thereafter, the Board shall hold public hearings at which members of the City Council, heads of municipal agencies, and citizens shall have the opportunity to appear before the Board to speak for or against the inclusion of any appropriation in the proposed Ordinance of Estimates.
(d) [(c)] Submission to Council.
The Board of Estimates shall submit to the City Council the proposed Ordinance of Estimates for the next fiscal year at least forty-five days before the beginning of that fiscal year.
(e) [(d)] Adoption by Council.
The City Council shall have at least forty days after receipt of the Board’s proposed Ordinance of Estimates to enact an Ordinance of Estimates. The City Council shall adopt an Ordinance of Estimates at least five days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year to which it is applicable if the Board of Estimates submits its proposed Ordinance of Estimates within the period prescribed by Section [3(c)] 3(d).
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That this proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to the legal and qualified voters of Baltimore City, for adoption or rejection, in accordance with Article XI-A, § 5 of the Maryland Constitution, in the form specified by the City Solicitor.