2012-2013 Budget - City of Saginaw MI

equesting department’s identification of an existing service that can be reduced or eliminated.Programs that are financed through grant money shall be budgeted in special revenue funds, andwhen grant revenues are reduced or eliminated, the service program shall be adjustedaccordingly.The budget is balanced and the City shall maintain a balanced budget in which estimatedrevenues and fund balance reserves are equal to or greater than estimated expenditures.The City will maintain a budgetary control system to ensure adherence to the budget and willprepare monthly reports comparing actual revenues and expenditures to budgeted amounts.The City will integrate performance management strategies within the budget.The City will avoid budgetary practices or procedures that balance current period expenditures atthe expense of future years’ revenues.The budget will provide for adequate levels of funding for all retirement systems.The City will develop and maintain accounting and budgetary control systems to adequatelysafeguard the assets held in public trust.The City will finance essential City services, which have a citywide benefit from revenuesources, which are generated from property taxes, special assessments, State Shared Revenues,and various fees.For Enterprise Funds, user fee rate structures will be reassessed to accurately charge the cost ofservices provided to the customers.Operating Budget Policies:The operating budget for the city is based on the principle of financing current expenditures with currentrevenues or available and undesignated fund balance. Expenditures shall include adequate funding ofthe retirement systems (Municipal Employee Retirement Systems and Police and Fire Pension Systems),and adequate maintenance and replacement of capital assets and operating expenditures.Budgeted expenditures will reflect the City’s perceived administrative needs and recommended councilstrategic long – term goals and objectives. The budget will be based on generally accepted accountingprinciples.Transfers of Appropriations:City Council Authority - After the budget has been adopted, no money shall be drawn from thetreasury of the city, nor shall be obligations for the expenditures of money incurred, except pursuant to abudget appropriation. The council may transfer any unencumbered appropriation balance or any portionthereof from one department, fund, or agency to another.Transfers shall require City Council approval if the transfer will result in an increase or decrease in theappropriation as set forth in the annual budget resolution.All transfers from the General Fund Contingent Appropriation account shall require City Councilapproval regardless of the amount.City Manager Authority – The City Manager is empowered to transfer appropriations withinappropriation centers. General Fund line item budget transfers from one account to another within thesame appropriation center can be made without City Council approval. All budget transfers from oneappropriation center to another or from the General Fund Contingent Appropriation account must be18