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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84463</law_id><section_number>15.2-2506</section_number><catch_line>Publication and notice; public hearing; adjournment; moneys not to be paid out until appropriated</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-89.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="25">Budgets, Audits and Reports</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Notice of one or more public <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> shall be given in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Adoption of ordinances and resolutions generally; amending or repealing ordinances" href="/15.2-1427/">15.2-1427</a>. Such notice shall, at a minimum, include a summary of the total revenues and expenditures for each appropriated fund and the current and proposed real estate and personal property tax levies. Any <span class="dictionary">locality</span> not having a newspaper of general circulation may in lieu of the foregoing notice provide for notice by written or printed handbills, posted at such places as it may direct. The <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> shall be held at least seven days prior to the approval of the budget as prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Time for preparation and approval of budget; contents" href="/15.2-2503/">15.2-2503</a>. With respect to the school division budget, which shall include the estimated required local match, such <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> shall be held at least seven days prior to the approval of that budget as prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Approval of annual budget for school purposes" href="/22.1-93/">22.1-93</a>. With respect to the budget of a <span class="dictionary">constitutional officer</span>, if the proposed budget reduces funding of such officer at a rate greater than the average rate of reduced funding for other agencies appropriated through such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>&#x2019;s general fund, exclusive of the school division, the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> shall give written notice to such <span class="dictionary">constitutional officer</span> at least 14 days prior to adoption of the budget. If a <span class="dictionary">constitutional officer</span> determines that the proposed budget cuts would impair the performance of his statutory duties, such <span class="dictionary">constitutional officer</span> shall make a written objection to the local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> within seven days after receipt of the written notice and shall deliver a copy of such objection to the Compensation Board. The local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> shall consider the written objection of such <span class="dictionary">constitutional officer</span>. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may adjourn such <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> from time to time. The <span class="dictionary">fact</span> of such notice and <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> shall be entered of record in the minute book.
		In no event, including school division budgets, shall such preparation, publication, and approval be deemed to be an appropriation. No money shall be paid out or become available to be paid out for any contemplated expenditure unless and until there has first been made an annual, semiannual, quarterly, or monthly appropriation for such contemplated expenditure by the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, except that funds appropriated in a <span class="dictionary">county</span> having adopted the <span class="dictionary">county</span> executive form of government for multiyear capital projects and outstanding grants may be carried over from year to year without being reappropriated.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 15-577; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 67; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 69; 1962, c. 623, &#xA7; 15.1-162; 1976, c. 762; 1978, cc. 126, 551; 1984, c. 485; 1997, c. 587; 2009, c. 280; 2014, cc. 360, 589; 2021, c. 8; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 155; 2024, cc. 225, 242.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
