I. – If the Metropolitan Council so decides, the allocations for capital expenditure include programme authorisations and payment appropriations.
Programme authorisations constitute the upper limit of expenditure that may be committed for the execution of investments. They remain valid for an unlimited period until they are cancelled. They may be revised.
Payment credits constitute the upper limit of expenditure that may be ordered or paid during the year to cover commitments contracted under the corresponding programme authorisations.
The balanced budget of the investment section is assessed by taking into account payment credits alone.
II. – If the metropolitan council so decides, the allocations for operating expenditure include commitment authorisations and payment appropriations.
The option provided for in the first paragraph of this II is reserved solely for expenditure resulting from agreements, deliberations or decisions under which the metropolitan authority undertakes, beyond one financial year, in the exercise of its competences, to pay a subsidy, participation or remuneration to a third party excluding personnel costs.
Commitment authorisations constitute the upper limit of expenditure that may be committed to finance the expenditure referred to in the previous paragraph. They remain valid indefinitely until they are cancelled. They may be revised.
Payment appropriations constitute the upper limit of expenditure that may be mandated during the year to cover commitments contracted within the framework of the corresponding commitment authorisations.
The budgetary balance of the operating section is assessed by taking into account payment appropriations alone.
On the occasion of the vote on the administrative account, the President of the Metropolitan Council presents an assessment of multi-annual management. The situation of the commitment and programme authorisations and the related payment appropriations shall give rise to a statement attached to the administrative account.
A decree shall set the conditions for the application of this article.