The fiscal year of the Town government shall
begin on the first day of July and shall end on the last day of June
of each calendar year unless a uniform fiscal year for all cities
and towns shall be established by state law. Such fiscal year shall
also be the budget and accounting year. As used in this Charter, the
term "budget year" shall mean the fiscal year for which any particular
budget is adopted and in which it is administered.
(1)
The budget shall provide a complete financial plan
for the budget year. It shall contain three parts:
(a)
The budget message prepared by the Town Administrator,
giving a general summary of the principal sources of anticipated revenue
with amounts to be raised from each source, and of the principal objects
of expenditure with amounts to be expended on each object, making
clear how expenditures are to be kept within income, and comparing
the general estimates for the coming year with the corresponding figures
for the past year and the year in progress;
(b)
Detailed estimates of all anticipated revenues applicable
to proposed expenditures together with supporting information such
as for example a statement of the Town's bonded indebtedness, showing
the amount of bonds outstanding and the amount authorized but unissued,
the condition of the sinking funds, the total borrowing capacity of
the Town, a detail showing the nature of all dollars included in the
surplus of the most recent audit and other relevant information on
revenues and expenditures.
[Amended 11-10-2002]
(c)
Drafted bills prepared by the Town Administrator,
for appropriations, revenues and borrowing if necessary, putting the
details of the budget plan into proper legal form ready for action
by the legislating body.
(2)
The Budget Board shall recommend an estimated tax
rate for informational purposes only.
[Added 11-10-2002]
(3)
The total of such anticipated revenues shall at least
equal the total of such proposed expenditures.
[Amended 7-1-1975; 11-10-2002; 11-2-2010]
The Town Administrator shall have an important
part in preparing the budget. He/she shall receive from the head of
each department and agency an estimate of the amount necessary to
carry on its work during the coming year. These estimates accompanied
by a statement from the Town Administrator shall be submitted to the
Budget Board on or before February 15, which shall prepare its budget
recommendations for submission to the annual Financial Town Meeting.
In performing this duty the Budget Board shall exercise these powers:
It shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary of the Board and shall
adopt its own rules and order of business; it shall receive from the
Town Administrator said statement of the budget requests for all departments
and agencies responsible to him/her; it shall investigate the recommendations
of the various department budget requests, including the School Committee,
and may request the Director of Finance with the head of any of the
departments and the head of any other board, office or agency supported
wholly or in part by Town funds to explain their estimates and recommendations.
The Budget Board may confer with the Town Council and shall hold one
or more public hearings in preparing the budget, the first of which
shall be held at least three weeks after receipt of the budget from
the Town Administrator. The public hearings for the proposed municipal
and school budgets shall be advertised by the Town Clerk at least
once in each of the two weeks preceding the hearings in two newspapers
either daily or weekly which serve the Town of Lincoln, as well as
the Town's web site. It shall present a budget message of explanation
to accompany the budget recommendations to the Financial Town Meeting.
[Amended 11-2-2010]
The Budget Board shall hold its first meeting
for the consideration of a recommended annual budget for the Town
of Lincoln for the fiscal year then next ensuing not later than the
15th day of February in each year, unless such day should fall upon
a Sunday or legal holiday, in which event said first meeting shall
be held not later than the first business day thereafter. The Budget
Board shall complete its consideration of the budget, including all
necessary conferences with the Town Council, the Town Administrator,
department representatives and citizens, upon a date not later than
30 days prior to the date of the Financial Town Meeting in each year
and shall annually on said date publish its recommended budget and
budget message by filing two copies thereof with the Town Clerk, one
for posting and public inspection in the Town Clerk's office, and
the other copy thereof for the use of the Town officers. The Town
Clerk shall cause sufficient copies of the budget and budget message
to be prepared for distribution to interested persons. Also, the budget
shall be posted on the Town’s web site within seven days after
being received by the Town Clerk.
(1)
In parallel columns opposite the several items of
anticipated revenues there shall be placed the amount of each such
item in the budget of the last completed fiscal year, the amounts
of such items actually received during that year, the amount of each
such item in the budget of the current fiscal year and the amount
actually received to the time of preparing the budget plus receipts
for the remainder of the current fiscal year estimated as accurately
as may be.
(2)
In parallel columns opposite the several items of
proposed expenditures, there shall be placed the amount of each such
item in the budget of the last completed fiscal year, the amounts
of such items actually expended during such year, the amount of each
such item in the budget of the current fiscal year and the amount
actually expended to the time of preparing the budget plus the expenditures
for the remainder of the current fiscal year estimated as accurately
as may be.
(3)
The estimates of receipts for all departments shall
be detailed by sources. The estimates of expenditures shall be detailed
by departments and the principal subdivisions thereof, offices, boards,
commissions and agencies of the Town and shall show for each such
unit the requested amount broken down by personal service, contractual
service, materials and supplies, fixed charges and capital outlays.
(4)
The budget shall include a detail of all municipal
and school salary expenses identifying each paid position by department.
Each position shall be listed by title and in parallel columns. Opposite
each respective position and its proposed salary there shall be placed
the amount of each such salary in the budget of the last completed
fiscal year, the amount of the salary actually expended during such
year, the amount of the salary in the budget of the current fiscal
year and the amount actually expended to the time of preparing the
budget, plus the projected expense for the remainder of the current
fiscal year estimated as accurately as possible.
[Added 11-10-2002]
The Budget Board shall submit its printed report
comprising the budget and budget message to the Financial Town Meeting
and shall make its recommendations for expenditures and for taxes
or other revenues, which will be necessary to pay such expenses.
[Amended 11-5-1996; 11-2-2010]
Within one week after the annual Financial Town
Meeting, the Budget Board shall certify to the Treasurer, Town Administrator
and President of the Town Council, the detailed budget.
Should the Budget Board fail to certify the budget, a written detail of the Budget Board's reasons therefor shall be provided to the Town Council by the chair of the Budget Board. Within two weeks after such notification or failure thereof, the Town Council shall meet to determine if a special Financial Town Meeting should be convened pursuant to § C3-11 of this Charter.
[Amended 11-10-2002; 11-2-2010]
The Town Administrator shall authorize all expenditures for
the departments, offices and agencies to be made from the appropriations
on the basis of approved allotments, and not otherwise; an approved
allotment may be revised however during the budget year. If at any
time during the first three quarters of the budget year but ordinarily
at the end of any quarterly period, the Town Administrator shall ascertain
that the remaining unexpended balance of appropriations for the year
will be insufficient to cover the proposed work programs, he/she shall
reconsider the work programs and allotments of the several departments,
offices and agencies and revise the allotments, other than the allotments
of the School Department and the Board of Water Commissioners, so
as to forestall the making of expenditures in excess of appropriations;
provided, however, that the revision is within departments, offices
and agencies. The Town Council during the last quarter of the budget
year may revise allotments between departments, offices and agencies
other than the allotments of the School Department and the Board of
Water Commissioners. If at any time during the budget year, the Town
Administrator shall ascertain that the remaining unexpended balance
of appropriations of the School Department and/or the Board of Water
Commissioners for the year will be insufficient to cover proposed
work programs for the School Department and the Board of Water Commissioners,
he/she shall advise the School Department and the Board of Water Commissioners
to reconsider their work programs and allotments and to revise their
allotments so as to forestall the making by them of expenditures in
excess of appropriations.
