Budget Development and Control

Budget Preparation photo

Overview

The goal of the Budget Development and Control Program is to assist in the development of the City's budget, maintain organizational financial control over budget implementation, and provide accurate financial analyses and projections in order to support sound planning and management of fiscal resources to achieve City goals.  

Budget Process

The City of Hartford’s fiscal year begins July 1st and ends June 30th.

The annual budget provides programs and services to the community.  It is an estimated plan for the next fiscal year.  It provides presentations of governmental policy, especially the implementation of policy changes. The Mayor’s Strategic Plan identifies the City’s major goals and objectives and how to achieve them.

  • Department heads send their budget projections between November and February. These are for the next fiscal year.
  • Department heads attend budget kick-off meetings in January or February. They receive city-wide goals for the next fiscal year.
  • The Mayor must submit a recommended operating budget to the City Council (Council). This must occur by the third Monday in April. The operating budget includes proposed expenditures and the means of financing them.
  • Residents and taxpayers may attend open meetings and public hearings.  This is for them to comment on the recommended budget.
  • The Council modifies the budget by resolution. Revenues, debt service and other capital, and pension requirements are not modified. Council submits an amended budget to the Mayor for certification.
  • The Mayor may approve, reduce, and/or disapprove Council’s budget modifications (resolutions). This must occur within 48 hours.
  • Upon action by the Mayor, Council has until May 31 to adopt the budget and all related ordinances. If it doesn't, they must consider the last revised budget as the budget of the City and adhere to that for expenses. The Council will make an ordinance for appropriation and tax levy in agreement with the budget.1

1 Hartford Municipal Code Part 1, Charter of the City of Hartford, CT, Chapter X, Section 5.

Internal Budget Process Calendar

 Date

Action
July 1

Fiscal Year Begins

Mid-October

Capital Improvement Plan Budget guidelines distributed

Mid-November

Departments submit their five-year Capital Improvement Plan project proposals

Late-December

Department Heads submit revenue estimates to the Office of Management, Budget and Grants 

Late-January

Elected and appointed officials and Department heads submit final budget requests to the Office of Management, Budget and Grants 

Mid-February to Mid-March

The Mayor and Department heads hold budget hearings on City departments' budget requests 
Early-April
Board of Education holds a workshop on the next year budget

Mid-April

Mayor submits the Mayor's Recommended Budget to the Court of Common Council (Council)

Late-April

Council holds a public hearing on the Recommended Budget seven to ten days after submission

Early to Mid-May

Council holds meetings and recesses its regular meeting to reconvene at a future time

Mid-May

Council reconvenes to begin budget deliberations 

May 21

The last day for Council to amend the budget for submission back to the Mayor 

May 31

Last day for the Council to adopt the budget and ordinances.  Otherwise, the budget, as certified by the Mayor, may become the Adopted Budget 
June 30 End of fiscal year
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