Budgets in Mayor-Council Municipalities

A.C.A. § 14-58-201. Annual submission.
On or before December 1 of each year, mayors of all cities and incorporated towns having the mayor-council form of government shall submit to the governing body of the city or town, for its approval or disapproval, a proposed budget for operation of the city or town from January 1 to December 31 of the forthcoming year.

A.C.A. § 14-58-202. Adoption of budget.
Under this subchapter, the governing body of the municipality shall, on or before February 1 of each year, adopt a budget by ordinance or resolution for operation of the city or town (AML recommends using a written resolution).

A.C.A. § 14-58-203. Appropriations and changes.
(a) The approval by the municipal governing body of the budget under this subchapter shall, for the purposes of the budget from time to time amount to an appropriation of funds which are lawfully applicable to the items therein contained.

(b) The governing body may alter or revise the budget and unpledged funds appropriated by the governing body for any purpose may be subsequently, by action of the governing body, appropriated to another purpose, subject to the following exceptions;

(1) Funds resulting from taxes levied under statutes or ordinances for specific purposes may not be diverted to another purpose:

(2) Appropriated funds may not be diverted to another purpose where any creditor of the municipality would be prejudiced thereby.

Budgets in City Administrator-Director Municipalities

A.C.A. § 14-48-117(6)
He or she [the city administrator] shall prepare the municipal budget annually and submit it to the board for its approval or disapproval and be responsible for its administration after adoption.

A.C.A. § 14-48-122
(a) The approval of the budget by the board of directors shall amount to an appropriation, for the purposes of the budget, of the funds which are lawfully applicable to the different items therein contained.

(b) The board may alter or revise the budget from time to time, and unpledged funds appropriated by the board for any specific purpose may by subsequent action of the board be appropriated to another purpose subject to the following exceptions:

(1) Funds resulting from taxes levied under statute or ordinance for a specific purpose may not be diverted to another purpose; and

(2) Appropriated funds may not be diverted to another purpose where any creditor of the municipality would be prejudiced thereby.

Budgets in City Manager-Director Municipalities

A.C.A. § 14-47-120(6)
He or she [the city manager] shall prepare the municipal budget annually and submit it to the board for its approval or disapproval and be responsible for its administration after adoption.

A.C.A. § 14-47-140
(a)(1) Any municipality organized and operating under the city manager form of government may authorize the mayor of the municipality to have the following duties and powers if approved by the qualified electors of the municipality at an election called by the municipal board of directors by referendum or by the qualified electors of the municipality by initiative:

…

(E) The power to prepare and submit to the board of directors for its approval the annual municipal budget.

A.C.A. § 14-47-125
(a) The approval by the board of directors of the budget shall amount to an appropriation for the purposes of the budget of the funds which are lawfully applicable to the different items therein contained.

(b) The board may alter or revise the budget from time to time, and unpledged funds appropriated by the board for any specific purpose may be appropriated by subsequent action of the board to another purpose, subject to the following exceptions:

(1) Funds resulting from taxes levied under statute or ordinance for a specific purpose may not be diverted to another purpose; and

(2) Appropriated funds may not be diverted to another purpose where any creditor of the municipality would be prejudiced thereby.