A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Municipal Government COVID-19 Emergency Budget Act".
B. Municipal governments may adopt a temporary budget for the 2021 fiscal year if the municipal governing body determines adopting a yearly budget is not in the best interest of the municipal government due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenue projections. The temporary budget process shall comply with the following provisions:
1. The temporary budget shall not exceed six (6) months in duration;
2. At the conclusion of the temporary budget the municipal government shall adopt a permanent budget for the duration of the fiscal year;
3. The temporary budget may be altered or otherwise amended following standard budgeting procedures;
4. In adopting the permanent budget for the 2021 fiscal budget year the municipal government shall comply with all provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and shall comply with deadlines within the Municipal Budget Act as provided in Sections 17-201 through 17-216 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Estimate of Needs Law as provided in Sections 3001 through 3033 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 461 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes, provided that the deadlines may be moved to a later date in the year so long as the total length of required notice has been met;
5. The municipal government shall comply with all provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act when adopting the temporary municipal budget. Additionally, the municipal government shall provide notice of the meeting where the temporary budget will be considered five (5) days prior to the meeting. The notice shall include the time, date, and place of the meeting. The notice shall also identify and list the website, if available, or other location where copies of the temporary budget or a temporary budget summary will be available for public inspection. In adopting the temporary budget for the 2021 fiscal budget year the municipal government shall be exempt from any budget preparation notice and publication requirements within the Municipal Budget Act as provided in Sections 17-201 through 17-216 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes and the Estimate of Needs Law as provided in Sections 3001 through 3033 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 461 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
6. Adoption of the temporary budget under the provisions of the Municipal Government COVID-19 Emergency Budget Act shall be deemed sufficient for all requirements and obligations of municipal governments concerning the adoption of a municipal budget; provided that any previous contractual obligation of a municipality dependent on the passage of a municipal budget may be fulfilled by either the temporary budget or the permanent budget at the discretion of the municipal governing body; and
7. The temporary budget options outlined in this section may be utilized by municipal governments operating under the Estimate of Needs Law as provided in Sections 3001 through 3033 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes and Section 461 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or Municipal Budget Act budgets pursuant to Sections 17-201 through 17-216 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Added by Laws 2020, c. 93, § 2, emerg. eff. May 20, 2020.