The board shall develop, adopt and submit to the Panel for approval by the Panel the annual budget for each fiscal year required by Section 17-1. After adoption by the board, the board shall submit each budget to the Panel for its approval not later than 30 days prior to the commencement of the fiscal year to which the budget relates. The Panel shall approve or reject the budget within 30 days of its receipt from the board. No budget shall have force or effect without approval of the Panel. Each budget shall be developed, submitted, approved and monitored in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) Each budget submitted by the board shall be based upon revenue estimates approved or prepared by the Panel.(b) Each budget shall be consistent with the budgetary structure required by the Panel and contain such information and detail as may be prescribed by the Panel. The Panel may also prescribe any reasonable time, standards, procedures or forms for preparation and submission of the budget. Any deficit for the prior fiscal year and for any fiscal year thereafter shall be included as a current expense item for the succeeding fiscal year.(c) The Panel shall approve each budget if, in its judgment, the budget is complete, is reasonably capable of being achieved, will meet the requirements set forth in this Article, and will be consistent with the financial plan in effect. Otherwise, the Panel shall reject the budget. In the event of rejection, the Panel may prescribe a procedure and standards for revision of the budget by the board. In the event the local board fails to adopt a budget approved by the Panel prior to the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year as required by Section 17-1, the offices of all local board members shall be deemed vacant by operation of law.(d) The board shall report to the Panel and the Financial Administrator at such times and in such manner as the Panel may direct, concerning the board's compliance with each budget. The Panel may review the board's operations, obtain budgetary data and financial statements, require the board to produce reports, and have access to any other information in the possession of the board that the Panel deems relevant. The Panel may issue recommendations or directives within its powers to the board to assure compliance with the budget. The board shall produce such budgetary data, financial statements, reports and other information and comply with such directives.(e) After approval of each budget, the board shall promptly notify the Panel of any material change in the revenue or expenditure estimates in the budget. The board may submit to the Panel, or the Panel may require the board to submit, an amended budget. The Panel shall approve or reject each amended budget pursuant to this Section.