Section 518. At the last stated meeting in November, the city manager shall submit to council his recommended budget in the form of an ordinance, together with such explanatory comment or statement as he may deem desirable. The budget shall be in such form as is required by law for city budgets, and shall in addition have appended thereto detailed analysis of the various items of expenditure and revenue. Public hearings shall be held on the recommended budget before action thereon is taken by council. Council shall upon passing the proposed budget ordinance on first reading fix a date for adoption thereof which shall be not later than the 31st day of December immediately following.
The council shall, where practicable, provide by ordinance for the operation of a system of work programs and quarterly allotments for operation of the budget and for development and reporting of appropriate unit costs of budgeted expenditures.