Section 617.3. Finances and Expenditures.--(a) The governing body may appropriate funds to finance the preparation of zoning ordinances and shall appropriate funds for administration, for enforcement and for actions to support or oppose, upon appeal to the courts, decisions of the zoning hearing board.
(b) The governing body shall make provision in its budget and appropriate funds for the operation of the zoning hearing board.
(c) The zoning hearing board may employ or contract for and fix the compensation of legal counsel, as the need arises. The legal counsel shall be an attorney other than the municipal solicitor. The board may also employ or contract for and fix the compensation of experts and other staff and may contract for services as it shall deem necessary. The compensation of legal counsel, experts and staff and the sums expended for services shall not exceed the amount appropriated by the governing body for this use.
(d) For the same purposes, the governing body may accept gifts and grants of money and services from private sources and from the county, State and Federal Governments.
(e) The governing body may prescribe reasonable fees with respect to the administration of a zoning ordinance and with respect to hearings before the zoning hearing board. Fees for these hearings may include compensation for the secretary and members of the zoning hearing board, notice and advertising costs and necessary administrative overhead connected with the hearing. The costs, however, shall not include legal expenses of the zoning hearing board, expenses for engineering, architectural or other technical consultants or expert witness costs.