Budget Ordinance Change Proposed By Mayors Assistant???

On Monday September 10th, 2012, the Buffalo Missouri Board of Alderman will be presented with an ordinance proposed by the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor.  In her monthly Administration Report she states, "Attached is a new ordinance to change the budget section to how it is done.  Please let me know if anything needs changed, as I would like to have it approved at the September 24th meeting."

I have a few problems with this...

Section 110.250: Of the City of Buffalo Code Book States...
PROCEDURE AS TO ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.
All ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen in written form with the name of the Alderman introducing the same endorsed thereon.  All proposed ordinances shall be prepared by the City Attorney or bear his/her certification that they are in correct form.  A copy thereof shall be sent to each member of the Board of Aldermen in advance of the meeting, to which copy shall be attached a brief resume of the bill together with the reasons for introduction thereof (as prepared by the proponent thereof), and if any amendment of an existing ordinance is proposed, the nature of the change sought to be made.  Failure to follow the procedure shall not invalidate any ordinance or resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen.

I don't see anywhere in this ordinance that states the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor has authority to propose an ordinance.  I also want to point out the ordinance states all proposed ordinances shall be prepared by the City Attorney...

Now on to the "proposed" ordinance...   My comments will be included in red.

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 145.060 RELATED TO BUDGET CALENDAR AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 145.060 RELATED TO THE SAME

WHEREAS, It has been found and determined by the Board of Alderman they should modify budget section of City Code to be concurrent with calendar that is in practice.  I don't believe I missed a meeting but I don't recall it ever being found and determined by the Board of Alderman that we should modify the budget section of the city code.  Maybe that means it will be decided if we enact this ordinance? NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Repeal. Section 145.060 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Buffalo and all amendments thereto are hereby repealed. The code to be repealed says the following... 
Section 145.060 BUDGET CALENDAR The Board of Aldermen shall prepare the City Budget in accordance with the following calendar:
1. First, the Board of Aldermen will collect the data necessary and make preliminary revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year.  They will estimate expenditures for the present year, and note expenditures and revenues for the previous two (2) fiscal years.
2. Second, the Board of Aldermen will request from each City Officer a statement of expenditures requested for the coming fiscal year.
3. Third, the City Board will review the departmental requests and make their final revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year, and will confer with department heads to discuss these requests.
4. Fourth, the Board of Aldermen will begin assembling the City Budget.
5. Fifth, the Board of Aldermen will confer with the Mayor and any such other officers as the Mayor may designate, for preparation of the City Budget for the next fiscal year to be submitted to the Board of Alderman.
6. The budget shall be submitted to the Board of Aldermen at the regular meeting in September.
Section 2. Enactment. There is hereby enacted the following ordinance to be known as Section 145.060 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Buffalo read as follows: 

SECTION 145.060 BUDGET CALENDAR
The Administrative Assistant in consultation with the Mayor shall prepare the City Budget in accordance with the following calendar. Notice please that this proposed ordinance, that was submitted by the Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, will exclude the 6 City Alderman from preparing the City Budget.  Are you taxpayers comfortable with 2 people having the authority to decide how our tax dollars are spent??? 
1. In July of each year, the Administrative Assistant will request from each Department Head a statement of expenditures requested for the coming fiscal year.
2. The Administrative Assistant will collect the data necessary, and make preliminary revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year.
3. The Administrative Assistant will review the departmental requests and make their final revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year, and will confer with department heads to discuss these requests.
4. The Administrative Assistant shall prepare a preliminary budget based on the revenue estimates calculated and department head expenditure requests. Please notice that in the current code each of these tasks are delegated to the Board of Alderman to carry out... One through four will now be the sole discretion of the Administrative Assistant...
5. The Board of Alderman will meet to discuss the preliminary budget and meet with such department heads as they see fit before approving the final budget for the next fiscal year. I speak from experience when I say, it is already confusing enough for the City Alderman with the current accounting methods being used.  Notice this ordinance turns over a lot of control to ONE PERSON.  Is that good government???
6. The final budget shall be submitted to the Board of Aldermen and approved prior to the end of September. With the current system it is very difficult to understand the budget.  Cutting the Aldermen out of the process is only going to make things harder.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect beginning with the next succeeding term of the Mayor's office and at the time, all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith shall hereby be repealed.

  
Ok no more red font.  Whether you are a citizen of the city of Buffalo or not I value your opinion on this matter.  I believe there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors.  I am sincerely asking for input from the citizens I represent but if they will not give it... I will take what I can get.  What are your thoughts?