What authority does the Council have when considering the proposed budget of the mayor?

The Council's authority when considering the proposed budget of the mayor encompasses a range of actions that allows for comprehensive oversight and adjustment. This authority includes the ability to increase, decrease, omit, or insert items in the proposed budget.

Being able to increase funds allows the Council to push for more resources in certain areas where they believe additional investment is necessary to meet the needs of the community or enhance services. Conversely, they can decrease or omit funding from areas where they find existing allocations to be excessive or not aligned with priorities. Additionally, they have the power to insert new items into the budget that reflect emergent needs or priorities that were not included in the original proposal from the mayor.

This broad authority ensures that the Council plays a vital role in the budgeting process, promoting accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to community needs. Other options suggest a more limited scope of authority, which does not accurately capture the full extent of the Council's budgetary powers.