160 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 117

facturing industries, establishments, plants and the like,
and the lane, machinery and tools therewith used, stock in
trade and products thereof as may be located in said
Hagerstown and come within the meaning and purpose of
this Act, the said Council to determine what factories,
manufacturing industries, establishments, plants and the
like are within the meaning and purpose of this Act; pro-
vided, however, that such exemption from municipal taxa-
tion shall only be granted when ten or more wage earners
are regularly employed by the person, persons, or corpo-
ration applying to the said Council for the benefit hereof;
and further provided that no such tax exemption shall be
granted except to new industries, or to established indus-
tries making bona fide substantial improvements or under-
taking new construction work; and further provided that
any and all such tax exemptions shall be matters of public
knowledge and wherever any exemption is granted a
notice stating all the details thereof shall be posted at the
most conspicuous place for such notices, both in the Court
House and the City Hall of Hagerstown.

35. All appropriations for expenditures from the funds
of the City of Hagerstown shall be passed by the Council.
The financial powers of the City shall be exercised by such
department or departments, and with such duties and
functions, except as herein provided, as the Council shall
determine, said financial functions shall be administered,
as in the case of other City functions, under the direct
supervision of the Mayor, who shall be responsible to the
Council for the proper exercise of such functions.

36. The City shall operate on an annual budget. The
chief financial officer of the City shall act as budget
officer, and the City shall operate under an executive
budget system. The Council shall establish by ordinance
a definite date each year at which it will commence con-
sideration of appropriations for the ensuing year. At
least three months prior to the regularly established time
at which the Council takes up estimates to make appro-
priations to the various City functions and services for
the ensuing year, the budget officer shall confer with the
Mayor and chief revenue official of the City as to funds
that will likely be available for the ensuing year under the
existing or modified revenue arrangements. The budget
officer thereafter, under such specific directions as the
Mayor shall give, and at least ten weeks prior to the
date set by the Council for the consideration of appro-
priations, shall send to the head or director of each depart-
ment or agency a request for a detailed estimate of funds