(a) On or before May 1 of each year, beginning May 1, 2015 each court fund's governing board, under the direction and with the approval of the district judge-member thereof, 20 O.S.2011, § 1304(a), shall submit to the Administrative Director of the Courts, for approval by the Chief Justice, the district court's proposed operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year (July 1--June 30). The request, on the form to be provided, shall estimate (1) the needs by specified categories of expense and (2) the anticipated court fund revenue. Estimates shall be based on experience of the preceding fiscal year. An upward or downward variance in any expense category of more than 10% from last year's budget figure shall be accompanied by brief explanation.

(b) Budget needs shall be submitted separately for each statutorily authorized category. Approval will be effected in one lump sum for all categories except those hereinafter called “restricted”. For each restricted category there will be a separate budget limit. Restricted categories are:

(c) No money may be expended from the court fund for any purpose unless the statutorily authorized expense sought to be paid falls within the approved budget limit that is applicable to that category of expense. Any expenditure that falls within the applicable approved budget limit shall be considered as paid out with prior written approval of the Chief Justice.