(a) On or before July 1 of each year or, for districts using two one-year budgets or a biennial budget, every other year, the board of directors may adopt a preliminary budget that conforms to generally accepted accounting and budgeting procedures for special districts.

(b) The board of directors may divide the preliminary budget into categories, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Maintenance and operation.

(2) Services and supplies.

(3) Employee compensation.

(4) Capital outlay.

(5) Interest and redemption for indebtedness.

(6) Designated reserve for capital outlay.

(7) Designated reserve for contingencies.

(c) On or before July 1 of each year or, for districts using two one-year budgets or a biennial budget, every other year, the board of directors shall publish a notice stating all of the following:

(1) Either that it has adopted a preliminary budget or that the general manager has prepared a proposed final budget which is available for inspection at a time and place within the district specified in the notice.

(2) The date, time, and place when the board of directors will meet to adopt the final budget and that any person may appear and be heard regarding any item in the budget or regarding the addition of other items.

(d) The board of directors shall publish the notice at least two weeks before the hearing in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the district pursuant to Section 6061.

(e) At the time and place specified for the hearing, any person may appear and be heard regarding any item in the budget or regarding the addition of other items. The hearing on the budget may be continued from time to time.

(f) On or before September 1 of each year or, for districts using two one-year budgets or a biennial budget, every other year, the board of directors shall adopt a final budget that conforms to generally accepted accounting and budgeting procedures for special districts. The general manager shall forward a copy of the final budget to the auditor of each county in which the district is located.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 249, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)