Walnut Creek Municipal Code Art. 1 Budget

In accordance with the time frame set forth herein, the City shall operate on a two (2) year budget cycle comprising two (2) fiscal years. Except for fiscal year 2021, the budget cycle shall begin on the first day of July of odd-numbered years and shall continue through the thirtieth day of June of the subsequent odd-numbered year. For fiscal year 2021 only, the budget cycle shall begin on the first day of July of 2020 and shall continue through the thirtieth day of June of 2021. The City shall adopt a one (1) year budget prior to commencing the 2020-2021 budget cycle to guide the City's expenditures during the one (1) year budget cycle. Thereafter, the City shall adopt a two (2) year budget prior to commencing each two (2) year budget cycle that shall guide the City's expenditures during the following two (2) year budget cycle. All budget estimates shall be compiled in such detail and in such form as is required by the City Manager. The City Manager shall submit a consolidated budget to the Council, with recommendations thereon, at a date not later than the first regular Council meeting in June of odd-numbered years, except that the budget for year 2020-2021 shall be submitted at a date not later than the first regular Council meeting in June of 2020.

A financial audit of all accounts shall be performed by an independent certified public accountant at the conclusion of each fiscal year, for a total of two (2) financial audits per budget cycle with the exception of the one (1) year budget cycle during year 2020-2021, which shall have one (1) financial audit only. This audit shall include all City entities.

(§ 1, Ord. 1683, eff. 4/88; § 2, Ord. 2202, eff. 1/3/2020)

After a public hearing, according to the time frame of Section 2-4.101, the Council shall adopt a budget for the operation of the City. Such budget shall include the estimated receipts and expenditures of all public funds, except those which are trust funds, from whatever source they are derived.

(2301 as amended by § 1, Ord. 1364, eff. August 4, 1978)

The budget may contain a contingent account which shall read as follows: "The Contingent Account of the City shall be expended only on written authorization of the City Manager for items for which no provision, or insufficient provision, has been made by the appropriations therein contained in the budget. Expenditures from the Contingent Account shall be reported monthly to the Council."

(2302)

All City accounts shall be kept in the form prescribed by the budget.

(2303)

All expenditures made on behalf of the City, directly or through any agency, except those required to be made by State law, shall be in accordance with the authorization contained in the appropriation ordinances or resolutions.

(2304)

The necessary accounting records shall be maintained to reflect the unencumbered balances of all appropriations. In determining the unencumbered balances of appropriations, the estimated amounts of commitments for goods or services ordered, but not paid for, shall be taken into consideration.

(2305)

The Director of Finance, upon written authorization of the City Manager, may redistribute budgeted appropriations within a department or division but shall not make transfers of appropriations from one department to another without the approval of the Council.

(2306)