J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                      253

52.

(a)  Before [February 15] April 1 in each year, the [County Com-
missioners] Board of Estimates shall have prepared a proposed
budget containing the items enumerated hereinbelow:

(b)  A fully itemized and detailed statement, in comparative form,
of the aforesaid itemized amounts requested by each county agency,
the amounts appropriated for the current fiscal year for each such
agency, and the appropriation recommended for each such agency
by the [County Commissioners] Board of Estimates for the ensuing
year.

(c)   A detailed statement in comparative form showing for the
current and ensuing years, all anticipated county receipts, from all
sources, whether they be federal, state or local receipts of any nature
whatsoever [except those from current taxes], and the total assess-
able basis, together with the rates for the current year for general
and special taxes and assessments, and the estimated rates required
by the recommended appropriations.

(d)   The total amount of county funds to be expended for all
purposes during the next ensuing fiscal year classified in detail as
to object, items and amounts for each county agency, under one of
the following [three] schedules as may be appropriate:

(1)  "Debt Service," which shall consist of all payments of principal
and interest to be made during the year on the various debts of
St. Mary's County;

(2)  "Current Expenses," which shall consist of all governmental
operating expenses and all other ordinary or recurring expenditures,
except debt service, and including a proper allowance for a con-
tingent fund;

(3)  "Capital Improvements," which shall consist of all expendi-
tures for land, labor, materials, and construction not included in the
first two schedules and of all appropriations for the purpose of creat-
ing a fund for capital improvements beyond the current year.

53.

(a)  In each year during the month of April the [County Com-
missioners] Board of Estimates, prior to adoption of the budget,
shall, after public notice, hold [a] at least two public hearings on
the proposed budget one of which shall be held during the evening
hours. Public notice of the time and place of said hearings shall
be given by publication once a week for two successive weeks in two
newspapers [of different political faith] of general circulation in
St. Mary's County. From [February 15 to] April 1 to May 1 in
each year, at least three or more copies of such proposed budget shall
be available for public inspection at the office of the County Com-
missioners during all regular business hours.

(b)  During the period from [February 15 to] April 1 to May 1
in each year, the [County Commissioners] Board of Estimates of
St. Mary's County [are] is hereby authorized and empowered to
revise the proposed budget and any part thereof by increasing,
decreasing, eliminating or adding items provided that there shall
be no consolidation of items in such manner as to reduce the detailed