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5.2 Level of Budgetary Control. The level of budgetary control is the level at which spending <br />cannot exceed the budgeted amount without City Council authorization. The level of control <br />is also the level of detail the City Council approves in the appropriation resolution. The <br />City's current level of budgetary control is at the fund level. However, department <br />management is responsible for administering their respective programs within the financial <br />constraints described by the budget as adopted. <br />Article 11, Section 11 -6 of the City of Louisville Charter states, "During the fiscal year, no <br />officer or employee shall expend or contract to expend any money, or incur any liability, or <br />enter into any contract which, by its terms, involves the expenditure of money in excess of <br />the amounts appropriated by the City Council. Any contract, verbal or written, made in <br />violation of this subsection shall be void, and no moneys of the City shall be paid on such <br />contract; except that the City Council may ratify such a contract if it determines that <br />ratification would be in the best interest of the City, and if it adopts a resolution making the <br />necessary appropriation." <br />5.3 Balanced Budget. The City's definition of a balance budget requires each fund's revenue <br />plus appropriated fund balance /working capital to be equal to, or greater than, each fund's <br />total appropriations. However, it is the City's intent to go further and develop structurally <br />balanced budgets for the General Fund and the other major operating funds (excluding <br />capital project funds). In a structurally balanced budget, annual recurring revenue will be <br />projected to equal or exceed annual recurring expenditures for each fund. If a structural <br />imbalance (recurring expenditures exceeding recurnng revenue) should occur in the <br />General Fund or in any of the major operating funds, a plan will be developed and <br />implemented to bnng the budget back into structural balance. <br />5.4 Budget Form. Article 11, Section 11 -2 of the City of Louisville Charter states, "The <br />proposed budget shall provide a complete financial plan for the City in a format acceptable <br />to the City Council. Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, the proposed budget shall <br />be prepared in accordance with State statutes establishing the local government budget law <br />and the local government uniform accounting law." <br />5.5 Capital Improvement Plan (C -I -P). A Five -Year Capital Improvement Plan will be <br />presented to the City Council for consideration during the budget development process. <br />The annual capital budget will be based on the first year of the approved C -I -P. <br />5.6 Long -Term Financial Plan (LTFP). Five -year financial forecasts for each of the City's <br />major operating funds will be presented to the City Council for consideration during budget <br />development. The LTFP will coordinate the C -I -P with the operating budget and will provide <br />insight into potential future financial imbalances so that action can be taken before a crisis <br />occurs. <br />5.7 Budget Amendment. The City Council may amend or supplement the budget by resolution <br />at any time after its initial adoption. A public hearing is required. <br />5.8 Budget Control System. The City will develop and maintain a budgetary control system to <br />help it adhere to the budget. All departments are part of the budget control system and will <br />have access to individual department reports that compare budget -to- actual financial <br />performance. The Finance Department will report City -wide budget -to- actual performance <br />on a monthly basis for both revenue and expenditures to the City Finance Committee. <br />