Budget Cycle

Just like in business, a municipality works with a budget, interim reports and financial statements. This is also known as the budget process or planning and control cycle.

How does the budget process work?

The budget process is an ongoing process. By regularly reviewing the progress of the plans and associated costs, it is possible to make adjustments or new agreements when necessary.

Each council period of 4 years, the council draws up a political term agenda. This contains what the council considers most important. On the basis of the political term agenda, the municipal executive committee draws up a programme for a four-year period. This program contains an initial elaboration of the topics from the political term agenda. In addition, the college may add topics that it considers important. On the basis of the college program, the college of B&W annually prepares a number of fixed documents for the council.

Below is a list of these documents starting with the document that is prepared first by the college of B&W and adopted by the council. 

Framework note

The council adopts the framework memorandum annually in June/July. The framework memorandum is used as the basis for the budget.

Budget

In the same year as the framework memorandum, the council adopts the budget. The council must adopt the budget by November 15 each year.

Budget Changes

The council adopts a bundle of budget amendments 4 times a year. The adoption of the documents takes place in the year, to which the budget relates. The council adopts this bundle of budget amendments in April, June-July, October and December.

Financial Statements

At the end of the year, the council adopts the annual accounts. This adoption takes place in the year following the year, to which the budget related. The council must adopt the annual accounts by July 15 each year.