Preparation of budget.

Each public guardian, whether funded in whole or in part by money raised through local efforts, grants, or any other source or whether funded in whole or in part by the state, shall prepare a budget for the operation of the office of public guardian to be submitted to the Office of Public and Professional Guardians. As appropriate, the Office of Public and Professional Guardians will include such budgetary information in the Department of Elderly Affairs’ legislative budget request. The office of public guardian shall be operated within the limitations of the General Appropriations Act and any other funds appropriated by the Legislature to that particular judicial circuit, subject to the provisions of chapter 216. The Department of Elderly Affairs shall make a separate and distinct request for an appropriation for the Office of Public and Professional Guardians. However, this section may not be construed to preclude the financing of any operations of the office of public guardian by moneys raised through local effort or through the efforts of the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.