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Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, 801, entitled "Comprehensive Fiscal Plan," §5-801.05, entitled "Public Hearings," through the creation of a new Subsection A, providing for an annual public budget workshop session, to be conducted by Council prior to holding public hearings on the proposed budget for any fiscal year.
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WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 2(c) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County specifically empowers County Council with the power to enact annual operating and capital budgets; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 2(f) of the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County specifically imposes the duty to submit annual comprehensive fiscal plans to the Council upon the Chief Executive; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to §5-801.03 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, the Director of the Department of Budget and Finance is charged with preparing the comprehensive fiscal plan for presentation to Council by the Chief Executive, and is specifically directed to consult with the County Manager in order to establish and promulgate a process for the preparation of the budget; and
WHEREAS, the Allegheny County Controller and Treasurer are specifically mandated to maintain functions and responsibilities consistent with the provisions of the Second Class County Code, which imposes significant budgetary oversight authority to both offices; and
WHEREAS, although §5-801.05 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County provides for public hearings on the proposed operating and capital budgets at least two weeks prior to their adoption, the Administrative Code does not currently contain any provision that requires that Council, the Chief Executive, Director of the Department of Budget and Finance, County Manager, Controller and Treasurer, all of whom have statutory responsibilities with regard to the budget, convene at any time in order to discuss the budget prior to its adoption; and
WHEREAS, it is the judgment of Council that the budget process would benefit immeasurably from requiring that the parties bearing responsibility for formulation, adoption and monitoring of the annual operating and capital budgets meet prior to its adoption;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 5-801.05 of the Administrative Code of Allegheny County is hereby amended as follows:
§5-801.05. Public hearings.
A. At least two weeks prior to holding the public hearings required under the terms of §5-801.05.B., the Allegheny County Chief Executive, the Allegheny County Controller, the Allegheny County Treasurer, the Allegheny County Manager, the Director of the Department of Budget and Finance, and designated Allegheny County Council Members comprised of at least all Members of Council's Committee on Budget and Finance shall meet to discuss the proposed capital and operating budgets for the next fiscal year. The meeting required by this Subsection shall be scheduled at a date, time and location that is mutually convenient to the participants, shall be open to the public, and shall be chaired by the Chairman of Council's Committee on Budget and Finance. Notice of the selected date, time and place of the meeting required by this subsection shall be provided to the public via publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation and conspicuous public posting within the Allegheny County Courthouse at least seven (7) days prior to the scheduled meeting date.
B. County Council shall hold a minimum of two public hearings on the proposed operating and capital budgets at least two weeks before their adoption. Copies of the budgets shall be made available to the public in the Office of the County Executive, County Manager and County Council at least one week before the hearings and after adoption. Summaries of the proposed budgets, the budget message and adopted budgets shall be made available by the County Manager for public distribution.
SECTION 2.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon final approval.
SECTION 3. 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 4. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.
PRIMARY SPONSOR: COUNCIL MEMBER McCULLOUGH
CO-SPONSORS: