City departments and independent authorities submit budget requests to the city's Budget Division. After the departments and authorities work with the Budget staff on each plan, the proposals are formally presented to the Mayor's Budget Review Committee or MBRC.
The mayor, working with the MBRC, drafts a preliminary budget and presents it to the City Council May 1. The final annual budget proposal for the general government must be submitted to the Council by filing a copy with Legislative Services no later than July 15, unless the Council by resolution establishes another date. The mayor submits a preliminary budget to City Council in May.
Then the budget is referred to the Council's Finance Committee, which conducts hearings on the proposed budget. Department directors, division chiefs and independent authority representatives discuss their plans with the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, working with the Council Auditor and staff, may amend the proposed budget prior to its review before the full City Council.
The City Council holds two public hearings on the proposed budget, as amended, before its adoption. Residents are invited to share their input with the Council during Finance Committee and full Council meetings.
In accordance with the law, the final budget must be approved by the full Council prior to Oct. 1, the first day of the city's fiscal year. Typically, the City Council votes on the budget during its last Council meeting in September, which falls on the fourth Tuesday each September.
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