Office of Budget and Fiscal Policy

The Office of Budget and Fiscal Policy oversees budgetary and fiscal recommendations and policies for every City agency. We consider the intersection between public policy and revenue realities to design and implement the City’s budget each year.

Contact Information

Department of Finance
Office of Budget & Fiscal Policy 
68 Mitchell Street
Suite 10100
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Tel: 404.865.8474

Creating the City Budget: A Quick Overview

There are four main entities involved in conceptualizing and finalizing the budget.

The Mayor

• Prepares and submits the proposed annual budget ordinance to the governing body no later than its first regular meeting in May, preceding the commencement of the fiscal year
• Considers the resolution submitted by City Council’s Finance/Executive Committee, based on council members’ suggestions for budget priorities
• Mayor and chief financial officer (CFO) may choose to consider the resolution in preparing the budget

City Council

• Holds one or more public hearings on the proposed budget; advertises said meeting(s) in a general-circulation newspaper at least seven (7) days before the date of the hearing
• Amends the proposed annual budget as many times as necessary, so long as the final version allows for all legal and Charter-mandated expenditures
• City Council has until June to adopt the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year

Budget Commission

• Works alongside City Council to submit an anticipated revenue report to the mayor for use in preparing the budget
• Upon filing revenue anticipations, needs no approval or disapproval, as they are binding upon the City Council

Chief Financial Officer

• Five days before the meeting at which the final budget will be submitted to the City Council, the CFO must provide a complete detailed written copy of the final version of the budget

Operating Budget Policies

City Council adopts general, special revenue and debt service fund budgets with the level of legal budgetary control that the office level establishes. The city must have a balanced budget (spending no more than it takes in) each year. It also must have controls in place to maintain compliance with legal budgetary provisions. City Council must approve appropriations for capital projects on an individual basis, at the project’s initial approval.

Budget Review Calendar

Note: Dates and times will be added as they become available.  All dates are subject to change.
*If the date has changed to suit the operating schedule, but is different in the code, indicate that with an asterisk.

Budget Documents

The Budget Documents listed here presents a high level view of how the City’s Revenues and Expenditures are allocated.  Previous years documents provide a year to year comparison.

Monthly Financial Reports

The Monthly Financial Reports are instrumental in validating the month to month impact of the General Fund Budget.  This Variance Analysis report offers a detailed picture of the budgeted vs. actual accounting of Revenues and Expenditures.

Five-Year Financial Plan

The City’s introduction of a five year planning process allows the City to identify future revenue and expense trends and proactively identify ways to improve financial viability.  A five-year plan is a critical forecasting tool for the City.  The refinement of assumptions, historical trends and policy decisions will have a direct impact on the City’s ability to address volatile economic conditions.

Related Links

Popular Annual Financial Report for Year Ended June 30, 2012

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