In which budget must a deficit in a municipal utility be raised?

The current fund is the appropriate budget to address a deficit in a municipal utility because it is designed to manage the day-to-day operating expenses of the municipality, including utilities. This fund typically includes revenue and expenditures related to ongoing services such as water, sewer, and other essential utility services. When a municipal utility operates at a deficit, it reflects a mismatch between the revenues generated from utility services and the costs incurred to provide those services.

The current fund captures these operational impacts, allowing the municipality to plan for necessary adjustments in funding or appropriations to cover the shortfall. This might involve increasing rates, reducing expenses, or allocating additional resources from other areas of the budget. In contrast, funds such as the capital fund primarily focus on specific capital projects; the trust fund is used for holding specific resources or investments for certain purposes; and the contingent fund is intended for unforeseen expenditures rather than ongoing operational deficits. Therefore, the current fund is the correct choice for managing municipal utility deficits.