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The City Council —it adopts the budget ordinance in a public meeting. This is because the decision on which measures or projects to allocate funds to is one of the City Council’s traditional powers. Information on the City Council’s meeting dates and its composition can be accessed through the Council Information System.

It’s a long process with many deadlines:

In May, the departments receive an initial draft of the operating budget and the capital expenditure program from the city treasury. The departments’ objections to this draft are discussed during the budget negotiations, and an agreement is ultimately reached. The figures are discussed during the budget talks between the departments and the Finance Department. The result is the draft budget. This draft is presented to the City Council in a public meeting. This year, the presentation will take place on Thursday, September 24.

Then the critical phase of the budget deliberations begins. The political factions and groups within the City Council discuss the figures internally. In the committees, votes are taken on the motions submitted by the parties and the administration’s subsequent amendments to the draft. They may also submit additional motions regarding the budget. Subsequent proposals may be submitted by the city departments. Advisory boards, such as the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Board or the Youth Parliament, may also submit motions regarding the budget, though only through the mayor.

The City Treasury compiles the approved motions and supplementary proposals in the fall and then drafts the budget ordinance. After approval by the City Council—usually during the January session—it is submitted to the Government of Middle Franconia (based in Ansbach), the competent supervisory authority, for approval.

For each fiscal year, which corresponds to the calendar year, the City of Erlangen—like all other municipalities—must adopt the budget ordinance. The budget ordinance is always valid for one year.

Once the city council has adopted the budget ordinance, it is submitted to the relevant legal supervisory authority. For the city of Erlangen, this is the Government of Middle Franconia in Ansbach. If the Government of Middle Franconia finds the figures plausible, it approves the financial package, including the components that require its approval.

If not, the City of Erlangen must make corrections. Until approval is granted, the budget ordinance does not (yet) take effect. During this period (known as the “budget-free period”), the city may nevertheless make financial payments—specifically, when

• it is legally obligated to do so, for example because contracts have been entered into or a law requires certain payments
• the payment is urgent for the continuation of necessary tasks.