[Amended 11/4/2014; 12-17-2020 by Res. No. 2020-07]
The electors of the Town qualified to vote upon a proposition to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money shall vote each year at Financial Town Referendum on a date to be determined and advertised by the Town Council, for the purpose of ordering any tax which lawfully may be ordered, making appropriations, and transacting any other business appertaining to the financial affairs of the Town which legally may come to Financial Town Referendum. Once the electors of the Town have voted on the expenditure of money at Financial Town Referendum, no additional expenditures or increases to approved expenditures shall be added without the vote of the electors with the exception of emergency expenditures made pursuant to Article VIII, Section C8-10.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
The electors in Financial Town Referendum shall have and exercise the powers vested in the Town to raise by a tax upon real and personal estate such sums of money as may be required to pay Town debts and to defray the necessary charges and expenses of the Town and they also may assess, levy or impose any other taxes for the support of the Town which may legally be assessed, levied or imposed.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
The Town Clerk shall cause the electors of the Town to be notified of every Financial Town Referendum.
The Council shall provide for the manner of calling such meeting and all other matters relating thereto which are not otherwise prescribed by the Charter or by vote of the Financial Town Referendum.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
No vote shall be taken at a Financial Town Referendum to levy a tax or to dispose of real property of the Town unless special mention has been made and notice given in the warrant issued for calling such meeting.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
Whenever the Council by Resolution, or 10% of the electors of the Town qualified to vote on a proposition to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money, shall make a request in writing for the calling of a Special Financial Town Referendum and directs the same to the Town Clerk, the Clerk shall cause the electors to be duly notified of the time and place of such meeting and of the business proposed to be transacted therein.
Restriction of Special Financial Town Referendum: No Special Financial Town Referendum shall be called without the consent of the Council if any subject proposed to be considered has been acted upon by a Town Referendum within the preceding six months.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
The Board of Canvassers shall conduct the Referendum in accordance with the provisions of Rhode Island Election Law.
Record of proceedings: A copy of the record of proceedings of any Financial Town Referendum, duly certified by the Town Clerk, shall be evidence of any act of the electors of the Town at a Financial Town Referendum.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
The electors of the Town qualified to vote upon a proposition to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money may, at a Financial Town Referendum, authorize the borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds pursuant to the statutes now or hereafter in effect.