IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
A THOROUGH STUDY OF THE FORMS AND CAREFUL PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WILL SAVE TIME, LABOR,
AND INCONVENIENCE TO ALL CONCERNED.  YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS WILL PROVE MUTUALLY
HELPFUL.
I.   LEVY PAGE
      A.  Enter all valuations and extend levies on each item of Real Estate, Personal Property, and Public Utility Property.
           Subtotal each class valuations and taxes levied.  The amounts for the Assessed Values Tax Purposes column must
           be those amounts reflected on the Certificate of Valuation (Column E).
      B.  Extend Taxes in WHOLE DOLLARS, Do not carry out to the cents. 
      C.  Do not use levy rates in excess of two decimal places.
      D.  Do not use less than 2.5% or more than 7.5% for delinquencies, exonerations, and uncollectable taxes, unless,
            historically collections indicate a lesser amount.
II.   REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PAGES
       A.  State all amounts in WHOLE DOLLARS, Do not include cents.
       B.  Do not complete the "APPROVED REVISIONS" columns.
       C.  Supply all information requested.
III.  SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - BE SURE TO COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED ON PAGES 15 through 18.
   SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
BUDGET MEETINGS:  Between March 7 and March 28 of each year the Municipal Council/County Commission must meet to
construct the budget for the next fiscal year.  During this period every elected official, governmental agency, and organization
seeking financial support, must appear before the Municipal Council/County Commission to list the projected requirements
for the coming year.
SUBMITTING BUDGET:  One certified copy of the Budget Document must be mailed to the State Auditor on or before March 28. 
No fax copies will be accepted.
PUBLICATION OF BUDGET DOCUMENT:  After Municipal Council/County Commission adopts the Budget, the entity must begin
publication.  The Budget Document must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in TWO  (2) newspapers of general
circulation and of opposite politics published in the area.  If the area has only one  such  newspaper,  publish  in  only  that  one.
Immediately after the commission adopts the Budget, each elected official should  receive  a  copy  of  their  detailed  request  for
appropriation outlining the amount the county commission has approved for the operation of their respective office.
AUDIT AND REVIEW BY THE STATE AUDITOR:  The State Auditor will audit and review the Budget Document.  Prior to the third
Tuesday in April, the Auditor will notify the entity by letter of the results of this audit and review.   If  the  Auditor  requires  any
changes by this letter, these changes must be made immediately.
LAYING THE LEVY:  Each entity MUST MEET on the THIRD TUESDAY IN APRIL, to officially lay the levy.  This entails the hearing
of objections and the adoption of the levy rates to be used during the next fiscal year.  An original certified copy of the Levy Order
and Rate Sheet must be mailed to the State Auditor's Local Government Services Division within three (3) days after the third
Tuesday in April.   DO NOT MAIL THE LEVY ORDER WITH THE LEVY ESTIMATE - BUDGET
BUDGET REVISIONS:  Regulations published by the State Auditor outline the procedure for  local governments to amend the
budget.  Revisions must be approved prior to obligation or expenditure of funds.