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The Finance Department is responsible for the proper accounting and reporting of all financial activities of the City. The department functions to provide financial information needed for policy and administrative decisions. The financial information is used: (1) to assess the existing financial position of the City as a whole, or of a particular fund, program or department; (2) to forecast this financial position over a given future time; and (3) to monitor and control the flow of revenues and expenditures so as to maintain accountability for funds and to operate the City within legal and budgetary constraints. The Finance Department prepares the City's Annual Budget and Capital Improvements Program and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The City Manager's Proposed Budget must be submitted to Council between the 10th and 15th of April. The City Council holds a series of meetings, worksessions and public hearings to discuss the budget. Citizens are encouraged to become involved in the budget process by attending the worksessions and addressing their comments to Council at the public hearings. The Capital Improvements Program is a six-year plan of proposed capital improvements and proposed methods of financing them. This six-year plan is the basis for estimating specific revenues and expenditures which will become part of the annual operating budget. The City Manager as Chief Financial Officer, is required to submit at the end of each fiscal year a complete financial report to the Council. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is prepared by the Finance Department to meet this requirement. The CAFR is prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as promulgated by various authoritative bodies through their publications, statements of position and other pronouncements. These include the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The City is also required to conform to the reporting requirements of the State of Maryland. In addition, the City Charter requires that "the financial books and accounts of the City shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant selected by the Council." Copies of the Annual Budget and Capital Improvements Program and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report are available in the Finance Department or from this website. 2009 Proposed Budget and Capital Improvement Program (pdf format)
For further information contact: Bowie City Hall Phone: (301) 262-6200, ext. 3025 |
 Bowie City Hall |
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