1496 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 534

kinds of expenditures, in such form as to present to the
taxpayers a simple and clear picture of the detailed esti-
mates of the budget.

70. Budget A Public Record. \The budget and budget
message and all supporting schedules shall be a public rec-
ord in the office of the city treasurer open to public inspec-
tion by anyone. The mayor shall cause sufficient copies of
the budget and budget message to be prepared for distri-
bution to interested persons.

71. Notice of Hearing. At the meeting of the council
at which the budget and budget message are submitted,
the council shall determine the place and time of the pub-
lic hearing on the budget, and shall cause to be published
in one or more newspapers published in the city a notice
of the place and time, not less than seven days after pub-
lication of the notice, at which the council will hold a pub-
lic hearing.

72. Public Hearing. At the time and place so adver-
tised, or any time and place to which such public hearing
shall from time to time be adjourned, the council shall hold
a public hearing on the budget as submitted at which all
interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be
heard for or against the estimates or any item thereof.

73. Public Statements by Officials. No director or
head of any office, department, or agency shall take any
public stand on the items of the proposed budget except
when called before the council hearings on the budget.
Appearances of directors or heads of any office, depart-
ment, or agency at budget hearings may be requested by
the mayor, the council, or any member of the council.

74. Council Action. The council may insert new items
or may increase or decrease the items of the budget. Where
the council shall increase the total proposed expenditures,
it shall also increase the total anticipated revenue to at
least equal such total proposed expenditures.

75. Vote On Budget. The budget shall be prepared
and adopted in the form of an ordinance. A favorable vote
of at least a majority of the total membership of the coun-
cil shall be necessary for adoption.

76. Final Adoption Date. The budget for the new
fiscal year shall be finally adopted not later than the twenty-