At least thirty days prior to the end of the fiscal year, the county council shall adopt budget, tax and revenue ordinances for the next fiscal year. Prior to the adoption of any budget ordinance for the next fiscal year, the county council shall hold a public hearing to consider the proposed budget presented by the county executive and shall hold any other public hearings on the budget or any part thereof that it deems advisable. The county council in considering the budget ordinance proposed by the county executive, may delete or add items, may reduce or increase the proposed appropriations and may add provisions restricting the expenditure of certain appropriations, provided that the county council shall adopt a six (6) year capital improvement program as an adjunct to the budget, including a balance of proposed expenses and potential revenue sources.

The appropriations included in the budget ordinance adopted by the county council shall not exceed the estimated revenues of the county for the next fiscal year for each fund including surpluses and reserves. However the county council may increase the amount of the estimated revenues contained in the budget proposed by the county executive by reestimating the amount by motion passed by a minimum of four affirmative votes, by utilizing reserves in a manner not proposed by the county executive or by creating additional sources of revenue which were not included in the proposed tax and revenue ordinances presented by the county executive.