Section 1608. Adoption of operating budget

1. Each consolidated assessing
  unit shall adopt an  operating  budget  and  submit  the  same  to  each
  constituent  municipality no later than September first of each year, or
  in Westchester county, no later than October first of each year.    Such
  budget  must be approved or disapproved by a majority of the constituent
  municipalities within twenty-five days of such submission. If the budget
  is disapproved, the consolidated assessing unit must  submit  a  revised
  budget  to  the  constituent  municipalities for approval or disapproval
  within ten days  of  such  disapproval.  Such  revised  budget  must  be
  approved  or disapproved by a majority of the constituent municipalities
  within fifteen days of such submission.
    2. The local laws establishing the  consolidated  assessing  unit  may
  contain  an  identical  formula  or  method for allocating the budgetary
  expense  of  the  consolidated  assessing  unit  among  the  constituent
  municipalities.  In  the  absence  of  such  a  formula  or  method, the
  budgetary expense shall be allocated in  proportion  to  the  number  of
  parcels  in  each  constituent  municipality.  Such  allocation  of  the
  budgetary expense shall  be  included  in  the  ensuing  budget  of  the
  constituent  municipalities prior to any public hearing on the municipal
  budget. The governing body of each constituent  municipality  is  hereby
  authorized  to  appropriate and raise by taxation money for the expenses
  of the consolidated assessing unit, and the consolidated assessing  unit
  is  hereby  empowered  to receive and expend the funds so allocated from
  its constituent municipalities.
    3. Revenues raised by the consolidated assessing unit shall be used to
  offset the costs of generating the revenue  and  to  enhance  assessment
  improvement efforts. Provision shall be made within the annual operating
  budget  for  the  collection  of  revenue.  The board of directors shall
  determine the allocation and disbursement of revenues received.
    4. The constituent municipalities shall not  be  responsible  for  any
  expense  incurred by such consolidated assessing unit except pursuant to
  contract  with  the  consolidated  assessing  unit  or  pursuant  to  an
  operating   budget   approved   by   a   majority   of  the  constituent
  municipalities.
    5. In furtherance of the purposes of this article,  such  consolidated
  assessing unit may receive and expend grants from private foundations or
  agencies and may apply for and accept grants from the federal government
  or  the  state  government  and otherwise enter into other contracts for
  provision of assessment related services.  Such  consolidated  assessing
  unit shall only accept grants, donations or subsidies in accordance with
  such  reasonable  conditions  and  requirements  as  may  be  imposed or
  approved by the board of directors.
    6. Every consolidated assessing unit shall make a financial report  to
  the governing body of each constituent municipality at least quarterly.