San Bernardino Municipal Code Art. VII Financial Management

The fiscal year of the City shall begin on the first day of July of each year and end on the last day of June of the following year. The Council may change the fiscal year by ordinance.

At least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the City Manager shall prepare and submit to the Mayor and Council the proposed budget and an accompanying message. The City Manager’s budget message shall explain the budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of the work programs, linking those programs to organizational goals and community priorities. It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the City for the ensuing fiscal year and the impact of those policies on future years. It shall describe the important features of the budget and indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies, expenditures, and revenues, together with the reasons for such changes. It shall summarize the City’s debt position, including factors affecting the ability to raise resources through debt issues, and include other such material as the City Manager deems desirable.

The budget shall provide a complete financial plan of all City funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year and, except as required by law or this Charter, shall be in such form as the City Manager deems desirable or the Council or Mayor may request for effective management and understanding of the relationship between the budget and the City’s strategic goals. In addition, the City Manager shall prepare and submit a multi-year capital improvement plan (CIP). The CIP shall be revised and extended each year with regard to capital improvements still pending or in the process of construction or acquisition.

The City’s budget and CIP should strive to achieve the best practice standards set by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for distinguished budget presentation.

The Council shall publish a general summary of the budget and CIP and hold one (1) or more public hearings. After the public hearing(s), the Budget and CIP shall be adopted, as they may be amended, by the Council before the beginning of each fiscal year.

The Council shall provide for an annual independent audit of all City accounts and may provide for more frequent audits as it deems necessary. An independent certified public accountant or firm of such accountants shall make such audits, which should be performed in accordance with General Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) and Generally Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards (GAGAS). Using competitive bidding, the Council shall designate such accountant or firm for a period not to exceed five (5) years.

As soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year, a final certified audit and report shall be submitted by such accountant to the Mayor, each member of the Council, the City Manager, Finance Director and City Attorney. Three (3) additional copies shall be placed on file in the office of the City Clerk, where they shall be available for inspection by the general public, and the audit and report shall be published on the City’s website.