The public general laws governing the preparation and filing of budgets by State units do not apply to the Commission.

The Commission shall prepare annual capital and operating budgets for each fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the subsequent year.

The budgets shall contain: separately for each county for which items are allocable and for which a tax is imposed, the proposed expenditures and estimates of anticipated revenue; a complete planning work program for each county in the regional district, including a schedule for the production of all plans and amendments; items allocable jointly to both counties, including provisions for: the operation of the units of the Commission established by law; and the regional planning program; and a schedule of recreation activities and programs for Prince George’s County in accordance with § 25–806 of this article.

The Commission shall submit the proposed budgets on or before January 15 of each year to the county executives of Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

In Montgomery County, the County Executive shall submit the proposed budgets to the County Council, together with the County Executive’s recommendations, on or before March 1 of each year. In Prince George’s County, the County Executive shall submit the proposed budgets to the County Council, together with the County Executive’s recommendations, on or before April 1 of each year.

After public notice, each county council shall hold a public hearing on the Commission’s proposed budgets at least 21 days after receiving the budgets from the county executive. On or before June 1 of each year, each county council shall, by resolution: approve the portion of the budgets allocable to that county, with any alterations made under subsection (c) of this section; and subject to the requirements and limitations of Subtitles 3 and 4 of this title and Title 21 of this article, impose taxes in the amounts the county council determines to be necessary to finance the portion of the budgets allocable to that county. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each county council may add to, delete from, increase, or decrease any part of the budgets allocable solely to that county. This paragraph applies only in Prince George’s County. In Prince George’s County, the county council may not allocate any part of the budgets allocable solely to the county to: the county council; or unless approved on or before June 1 in accordance with subsection (b) of this section: the Prince George’s County government, including a governmental unit of the county; or any third–party business entity or individual. Budget items allocable to both counties as submitted by the Commission shall be concurred in by both county councils. The county councils may concur in additions to, deletions from, increases to, or decreases from budget items allocable to both counties. Failure of the county councils to concur in any budget item allocable to both counties by June 15 shall constitute approval of the item as submitted by the Commission.

Within 3 calendar days after approval of the budgets, each county council shall submit the budgets to the respective county executive. Within 10 days after delivery of the budgets by the county council, the county executive may disapprove or reduce any item contained in the budgets or the planning work program. If the county executive disapproves or reduces any item in the budgets, the county executive shall return the budgets to the respective county council with the reasons for the county executive’s disapproval or reduction stated in writing. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 30 days after the respective county executive returns the budgets, each county council may, by affirmative vote of six of its members, reapprove or restore any item over the disapproval of the county executive. In Montgomery County, within 30 days after the county executive returns the budgets, the county council may, by affirmative vote of eight of its members, reapprove or restore any item over the disapproval of the county executive.

After adoption of the budgets by the county councils, the budgets may be amended by resolution by the county councils on their initiative or at the request of the Commission. Before adopting a budget amendment under this subsection, a county council shall: receive recommendations from the respective county executive; and hold a public hearing on reasonable notice to the public. An amendment to a budget item allocable to both counties is not effective unless it has received the concurrence of both county councils.

Unless approved by either or both county councils, as applicable, after receiving recommendations from either or both county executives, the Commission may not make or authorize an expenditure of funds exceeding 110% of the available approved budget amounts for: each park and recreation project and each administrative or operating department or function of the Commission, as set forth in each county’s legislation approving the budgets; and each planning project contained in the planning work program for each county. Except for enterprise funds, the Commission may not exceed the total approved budgets for each of its funds, without the prior approval of either or both county councils, as applicable.

The Commission shall prepare and submit a 6–year capital improvements program: before November 1 of each odd–numbered calendar year to the County Executive and County Council of Montgomery County; and before January 15 of each calendar year to the County Executive and County Council of Prince George’s County.

The capital improvements program shall: include a statement of the objectives of the capital programs and the relationship of the programs to the county’s adopted long range development plans; recommend capital projects and a construction schedule; provide an estimate of cost and a statement of all funding sources; and include all programmed parkland acquisition, all major park improvement and development, and major acquisition of equipment.

In Montgomery County, the County Executive shall submit recommendations with respect to the Commission’s proposed program, including any suggested amendments, revisions, or modifications, to the County Council as part of the comprehensive 6–year capital improvements program required by the county charter in each even–numbered calendar year.

On or before adoption of its annual budget and appropriations resolution, each county governing body shall adopt the 6–year capital improvements program: each even–numbered calendar year in Montgomery County; and each year in Prince George’s County. Each county governing body shall hold a public hearing before adopting the 6–year capital improvements program. The public hearing may be conducted in conjunction with public hearings on the 6–year programs or capital budgets of the county and other units. Each county governing body may amend, revise, or modify the 6–year capital improvements program. An amendment, revision, or modification made under this paragraph may not become final until at least 30 days after it is submitted to the Commission for written comment.

In Montgomery County, the County Council may amend an approved 6–year capital improvements program at any time by an affirmative vote of eight of its members.

The Commission’s capital budget for each fiscal year may include only projects that fully conform with the part of the most recently adopted 6–year capital improvements program applicable to that year. Unless the 6–year capital improvements program has been amended in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, a capital project may not be undertaken, wholly or partly, that is not in conformity with the part of the program applicable to that year. The 6–year capital improvements program may be amended by the county governing body: on its own initiative or at the request of the Commission; and after a public hearing on reasonable notice to the public.