Chapter 4.12 BUDGET PROCEDURE[2]

4.12.010 Applicability of chapter provisions.

4.12.020 Transmission of forms for budget estimates.

4.12.030 Filing of estimates with auditor and chief administrative officer--Time limit.

4.12.040 Estimates--Investigations and hearings by chief administrative officer.

4.12.050 Estimates--Filing with board of supervisors--Time limit.

4.12.070 Proposed budget--Preparation and approval.

4.12.080 Proposed budget--Printing.

4.12.090 Proposed budget--Notice of distribution.

4.12.100 Hearing on proposed budget and adoption of final budget.

4.12.110 Resolution fixing tax rates--Preparation and adoption.

4.12.120 Changes in appropriations after final budget adoption.

4.12.130 Work program allotments.

4.12.140 Equipment detail requirements.

4.12.150 Carrying forward of encumbered funds.

4.12.160 Salary fund abolished.

4.12.010 Applicability of chapter provisions.

The sections hereinafter in this chapter set forth shall be general in their nature and shall apply to and govern all officials, persons, offices, departments, services, institutions or districts for whom or for which the board of supervisors of the county of Los Angeles is required to adopt an annual budget as provided for in Chapter 1, Division 3, Title 3, of the Government Code. (Ord. 5033 § 7, 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 100, 1942.)

4.12.020 Transmission of forms for budget estimates.

On or before the 15th day of January of each year, the county auditor and the chief administrative officer shall transmit to each officer, board, commission or person budget forms prepared by said auditor or chief administrative officer on which each such officer, board, commission or person shall prepare his or its estimates of expenditures for the next ensuing fiscal year. (Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 101, 1942.)

4.12.030 Filing of estimates with auditor and chief administrative officer--Time limit.

As soon as completed, and on or before March 31st of each year, each such officer, board, commission or person who is (or which is) the administrative head of a separate department, service or district, shall file with the county auditor and chief administrative officer, on such forms furnished by the county auditor and chief administrative officer, itemized estimates of expenditures required by such department, service or district for the next ensuing fiscal year, together with an itemized estimate showing the probable revenue from sources other than taxation that will accrue to his or its department, office, service or district, and such additional information thereon as may be required by the county auditor or chief administrative officer. (Ord. 93-0003 § 1, 1993: Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 102, 1942.)

4.12.040 Estimates--Investigations and hearings by chief administrative officer.

The chief administrative officer, upon receipt of such estimates, shall immediately proceed to examine the same and make such investigations and studies and to hold departmental hearings in regard thereto as he may deem necessary. Said departmental hearings and examinations shall be concluded by the chief administrative officer and his decision arrived at on or before June 23rd of each year. (Ord. 93-0003 § 2, 1993: Ord. 86-0010 § 1, 1986: Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5896 § 1 (part), 1952: Ord. 5680 § 1 (part), 1951: Ord. 4099 Art. §§ 104, 1942.)

4.12.050 Estimates--Filing with board of supervisors--Time limit.

A. On or before June 23rd of each year, the chief administrative officer shall file with the board of supervisors and with each member thereof a copy of his compilation of the budget estimates of expenditures and probable revenue from sources other than taxation for each such department, service or district for the next ensuing fiscal year, and his recommendations thereon.
B. Any differences between the recommendations of the chief administrative officer and the estimates as submitted shall be clearly indicated in the recommendations and comments of the chief administrative officer. (Ord. 93-0003 § 3, 1993; Ord. 86-0010 § 2, 1986: Ord. 11673 § 3, 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 105, 1942.)

4.12.070 Proposed budget--Preparation and approval.

As soon as practicable, the board of supervisors shall cause to be made such revisions, additions or changes in the chief administrative officer’s recommendations as are deemed necessary or advisable, and after such revisions, additions or changes shall have been made therein, and on or before June 30th of each year, the board shall adopt an order approving the same and such recommendations, together with such revisions, additions or changes, shall constitute the proposed county budget for the next ensuing fiscal year. Any official or person whose estimates have been so revised, reduced or increased by the board shall be given the opportunity to be heard thereon before the board during or prior to public hearings on the proposed budget. (Ord. 93-0003 § 4, 1993: Ord. 86-0010 § 4, 1986: Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 107, 1942.)

4.12.080 Proposed budget--Printing.

The proposed budget as so approved by the board of supervisors shall be reproduced for distribution, as required by Section 29065 of the Government Code. (Ord. 86-0010 § 5. 1086: Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5033 § 9, 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 108, 1942.)

4.12.090 Proposed budget--Notice of distribution.

The board of supervisors shall, on or before June 30th of each year, cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the county notice that the proposed budget has been prepared and will be available on and after June 30th for distribution to the taxpayers desiring a copy thereof. Such notice shall conform in form and substance with the provisions of Section 29066 of the Government Code. (Ord. 93-0003 § 5, 1993: Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5033 § 10, 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 109, 1942.)

4.12.100 Hearing on proposed budget and adoption of final budget.

A. On or before the July 10th of each year but not less than 10 days subsequent to the date that the budget is available to taxpayers desiring a copy thereof, the board of supervisors shall commence public hearing on such proposed budget, at which hearing any taxpayer may appear and be heard for or against any part of the budget. Such hearing shall be continued from day to day until concluded, but not to exceed a total of 10 days.
B. The board of supervisors, on or before August 1st of each year, shall finally determine and by resolution adopt the budget for the next ensuing fiscal year. (Ord. 93-0003 § 6, 1993: Ord. 82-0147 § 1, 1982; Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 110, 1942.)

4.12.110 Resolution fixing tax rates--Preparation and adoption.

On or before the first day of September of each year, or as otherwise provided through application of Section 29100.1 of the Government Code, the county auditor shall prepare and submit to the board of supervisors a form of resolution in which shall be set forth the amount of money necessary to meet the estimated expenditures for the next ensuing fiscal year, as finally determined, less the total of the estimated revenues from sources other than taxation, together with the tax rates necessary to raise the amount of such estimated expenditures. The board of supervisors shall adopt said resolution on or before the first day of September of each year, or as otherwise provided by Section 29100.1 of the Government Code. (Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 111, 1942.)

4.12.120 Changes in appropriations after final budget adoption.

A. After the adoption of the final budget by the board of supervisors as provided for in this chapter, each request for transfer, addition to, cancellation of, or other change in any budget appropriations (except in cases of emergency) shall be submitted by each officer, board, commission or person at the head of any department, service or district to the county auditor. The auditor shall report on such request as to the availability of funds, or to such other facts as conditions may require, and shall transmit such request, together with his report thereon, to the chief administrative officer.
B. The chief administrative officer, upon receipt of the report of the auditor, shall make a recommendation on such proposed transfer, addition to or cancellation of, or other change on any budget appropriation, and file the same, together with the report of the auditor, with the board of supervisors.
C. The chief administrative officer may approve transfers and revisions of appropriations among objects and subobjects within a budget unit. (Ord. 83-0138 § 1, 1983; Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 112, 1942.)

4.12.130 Work program allotments.

As may be required by the chief administrative officer, each department head, officer, board or commission hereinbefore specified in this chapter shall submit for approval to the chief administrative officer, with his or its budget request, a proposed spending schedule or work program for the ensuing year on forms furnished by the chief administrative officer, which shall be modified to conform to the respective appropriations as finally allowed by the board of supervisors. Such spending schedule or work program, if finally approved by the board of supervisors, shall constitute the work program allotments to the appropriation accounts. In case of emergency or unusual circumstances which could not be anticipated at the time of apportionment, an adjustment to the allotment may be made on the request of the department head and the approval of the chief administrative officer. Each request for such adjustment shall be prepared on forms furnished by the chief administrative officer. After the allotment schedule has been established or fixed, as heretofore provided, no department or officer shall expend or cause to be expended during any period a sum greater than the amount set forth for the particular activity in the allotment schedule so established, unless such schedule has been modified as herein provided. (Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 5896 § 1 (part), 1952: Ord. 5680 § 1 (part), 1951: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 113, 1942.)

4.12.140 Equipment detail requirements.

Each department head, officer, board or commission hereinbefore specified in this chapter shall submit for approval to the chief administrative officer with his or its budget request, a supporting detail of all capital outlay, and shall list items separately, showing the number and estimated cost of each. This equipment detail shall be subject to modification by the chief administrative officer to conform to the respective appropriations as finally allowed by the board of supervisors, and copies thereof shall be transmitted by him to the respective department head, officer, board or commission, the purchasing and stores department, and county auditor. The auditor, in certifying contracts or purchase orders or other encumbrances of such capital outlay items, shall consider only those capital outlay appropriation items to be available for encumbrance or expenditure as shall conform to the equipment detail as approved by the chief administrative officer. In case of emergency or unusual circumstances which could not be anticipated at the time of approval, a modification of the equipment detail within the amount of the appropriation therefor may be made on the request of the department head, officer, board or commission and the approval of the chief administrative officer. (Ord. 5896 § 1 (part), 1952: Ord. 5680 § 1 (part), 1951: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 114, 1942.)

4.12.150 Carrying forward of encumbered funds.

At the close of each fiscal year, the auditor-controller shall carry forward encumbrances, and disbursements applicable to such encumbrances shall be accounted as expenditures of the year in which payment is made. Encumbered funds which were carried forward and not required to liquidate such encumbrances shall automatically revert to appropriation for contingencies. (Ord. 11673 § 1 (part), 1978: Ord. 6954 § 1, 1956: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 115, 1942.)

4.12.160 Salary fund abolished.

Wherever in Ordinance 4099 or any other ordinance, order or resolution, a reference is made to the salary fund, it shall be deemed to be a reference to the county general fund. (Ord. 7350 § 1, 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 5 § 116, 1942.)