# Policy AM-420-4 Operating Budget

Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## Policy AM-420-4 Operating Budget

Balt., Md., Admin. Manual AM-420-4 (2026)

scope The operating budget is a plan approved by the Board of Estimates and the City Council for appropriating funds to agencies for operating costs during a fiscal year. This plan establishes legal expenditure limits and reflects appropriations budgeted according to programs and sources of funding.

terms The following is a listing of frequently used terms with definitions specific to the operating budget.
<strong>ACTIVITY: </strong>A subdivision of a program that specifies a specific function of the program. Some programs may be accomplished through the performance of only one activity, while other programs may require the performance of two or more activities.
<strong>AGENCY: </strong>An organization authorized by the Mayor and City Council to operate in the best interest of the public. Each agency is responsible for submitting a budget request outlining projected costs of operation for the upcoming fiscal year to the Director of Finance and/or Planning Commission, as applicable.
<strong>APPROPRIATION:</strong> An authorization granted by City Ordinance to make expenditures and incur obligations in a specified amount from a designated fund account for a specific project.
<strong>FISCAL YEAR:</strong> The year from July 1 through June 30, designated by the calendar year in which June 30 occurs.
<strong>FUND:</strong> A sum of money segregated for specific purposes. Use of this money requires adherence to special regulations established for each type of fund. The various funds are:
1001 General – A fund comprised primarily of City tax revenues; used to support many City operations.
2000 Internal Service – A fund to provide for the cost of goods and services furnished by certain agencies to other agencies.
2022 Convention Center Bond Fund – Established in Fiscal 1995 to budget and account for hotel tax revenues to be dedicated to support the payment of principal and interest associated with City indebtedness to finance one-third of the $151 million cost of the joint city-state expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center.
2024 Conduit Enterprise Fund – Established to budget for revenue charged to non-City entities renting space in the City owned and operated underground conduit system and for operating and capital expenses and Maintaining the system.
2070 Waste Water Utility – A fund comprised of payments received for sewage service; used to support operations of the sewage system.
2071 Water Utility – A fund comprised of payments received for water; used to support operations of the water supply system.
2073 Loan &amp; Guarantee Enterprise – A fund established to budget for the self-supporting of program of loans and guarantees administered by the Department of Finance pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Estimates.
2075 Parking Enterprise<strong> – </strong>A fund comprised of revenues from garage operations, installment purchase payments, and various parking related revenues; used to support the development of off street parking facilities.
2076 Parking Management Fund<strong> – </strong>A fund comprised of monies transferred from the Parking Enterprise Fund and of certain parking related revenues; used to budget for fund transfers from the Parking Enterprise Fund and to the General Fund and to support certain parking activities.
4000 Federal – A fund comprised of federal grants; used to support specific purposes.
5000 State – A fund comprised of State grants; used to support specific purposes.
6000 Special – A fund comprised of grants from private sources; used to support specific purposes.
<strong>GRANT:</strong> Revenue received from the private sector or from another government to support a specific function.
<strong>OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE:</strong> A grouping of similar goods, services, or other expenses used to categorize spending. The Objects of Expenditure are listed below.
Object 0 – Transfers
Object 1 – Salaries
Object 2 – Other Personnel Costs
Object 3 – Contractual Services
Object 4 – Materials and Supplies
Object 5 – Equipment - $4,999 or less
Object 6 – Equipment - $5,000 or more
Object 7 – Grants, Subsidies, and Contributions
Object 8 – Debt Service
Object 9 – Capital Improvements
<strong>OPERATING BUDGET:</strong> A plan for appropriating funds to agencies for operating costs during a fiscal year. This plan establishes legal expenditure limits and reflects appropriations according to programs and sources of funding. Included are capital improvements under $50,000, items of repairs, maintenance or emergency nature under $100,000, and Bureau of Water and Waste Water items of repair, maintenance or emergency nature costing less than $250,000.
<strong>PROGRAM:</strong> A subdivision of an agency's operating budget. Some agencies require only one program, while other agencies require two or more programs.
<strong>REVENUE:</strong> Income generated by taxes, fines, licenses, notes, bonds, penalties, investment income, property rental, user charges, grants, and other sources.
<strong>SALARY/WAGE SAVINGS:</strong> Unexpended or unappropriated part of the gross salaries and wages approved for permanent full-time positions. These savings result from positions which are vacant or filled by employees in lower pay classifications.
<strong>SUB-OBJECT OF EXPENDITURE:</strong> A sub-division of an object of expenditure to identify specific commodities and/or services. A listing of common sub-objects and their descriptions is in the Operating Budget Instructions, which are issued annually by the Bureau of the Budget and Management Research.

*History: October 27, 2004*

*History: October 13, 2016*