§ 7.02. Operating budget preparation and adoption.

A.

At least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the president shall submit to the council a proposed operating budget in the form required by this Charter. At the meeting of the council at which the operating budget is submitted, the council shall order a public hearing on the budget. At least ten (10) days prior to the date of such public hearing, the council shall publish in the official journal the place of the hearing, a general summary of the proposed budget, and the times and places where copies of the proposed budget are available for public inspection. At the time and place so advertised, the council shall hold a public hearing on the budget as submitted. The budget shall be finally adopted not later than the last day of the current fiscal year. Upon final adoption, the budget shall be in effect for the budget year and copies shall be filed with the secretary of the council. The budget as finally adopted shall be reproduced and sufficient copies shall be made available for use by all offices, departments and agencies of the parish government.

B.

Upon failure of the council to adopt a budget prior to the end of the current fiscal year, an amount equal to fifty (50) percent of the amount appropriated for that fiscal year shall be appropriated for the new fiscal year and such appropriation shall be in effect until such time as a new budget is adopted.