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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending Article 801 of the Administrative Code by providing for an amended §801.06(A) “Adoption of Budgets.”
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Whereas, Section 801.06(A) of the Administrative Code (the “Code”) details the process
under which the County is to adopt its annual budgets; and
Whereas, this Council believes that providing for “character level” detail in annual budgets would result in more efficient, responsive and accountable delivery of governmental services at the County level; and
Whereas, this Council deems it appropriate to modify the process under which the County is to adopt its annual budgets to provide for “character level” detail in the annual budgets.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of the Preamble.
The provisions set forth in the preamble to this Ordinance are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
SECTION 2. Amendment to Section 801.06(A).
Article 801 “Comprehensive Fund Plan,” of the Administrative Code is hereby amended to add an amended §801.06(A) as follows:
Section 801.06 Adoption of Budgets
A. Upon completion of the public hearing required in Section 801.05 of this Administrative Code, but no later than twenty-five (25) days before the end of the current fiscal year, County Council shall adopt, by Resolution, balanced annual operating, capital, grants and special revenues, and agency fund budgets for the next fiscal year. Before adoption of the budgets, County Council may add, delete, increase or decrease any appropriation item contained therein. Adoption of the annual operating budget shall constitute the appropriation of the amounts specified as expenditures from the funds indicated and shall be specified at the character level for every county department or for every division within a county department, as applicable. The term “character level” shall include personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, materials, repairs and maintenance, fixed assets cost, services, expenditure recovery, contributed services, debt service and contingency. Appropriations adopted by resolution at the department-character level or the division-character level shall be considered self-contained for line-item veto purposes as set forth in Section 311.67 of the Administrative Code.
SECTION 3. Effective Date.
This amendment shall become effective upon passage and shall apply to the 2005 budget year and each year therafter.
SECTION 4. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. Repealer. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION
This proposed legislation would amend section 801.06(A) of the Administrative Code, to require all county budgets, beginning with the budget for 2005, to include detail at the “character level” for each department or division. The term “character level” is defined to require the following cost elements to be set out specifically for each department or division: personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, materials, repairs and maintenance, fixed assets cost, services, expenditure recovery, contributed services, debt service and contingency. This amendment will make County government more transparent and would instill greater accountability and responsiveness to the affected County officials.