Commentary on Sections Sections 3 to 5 – Annual budget
These sections place requirements on district councils regarding the annual budget.
Section 3 re-enacts section 53 of the 1972 Act, requiring a council to approve estimates, authorise expenditure and fix the amount to be raised by rates for the following year.
Section 4 requires the chief financial officer to submit a report on the robustness of the estimates to the council and requires a council to have regard to the chief financial officer’s report when considering the estimates for the next financial year.