The fiscal year of the town shall begin on July 1 and shall
end on June 30, unless another period is required by general law.
(a)
Public Hearing - At least 7 days before the meeting at which the
school committee votes on its final budget request, the school committee
shall cause to be published in a local newspaper a general summary
of its proposed budget. The summary shall specifically indicate any
major variations from the current budget and the reasons for such
changes. It shall further indicate the times and places at which complete
copies of its proposed budget will be available for examination by
the public, and the date, time and place when a public hearing will
be held by the school committee on the proposed budget. The school
committee shall take its final vote on its proposed budget not sooner
than at its next regularly scheduled meeting following the public
hearing.
(b)
Submission to Town Manager - The budget as adopted by the school
committee shall be submitted to the town manager in sufficient time
to enable the town manager to consider the effect of the school department's
requested appropriation upon the total town operating budget which
is required to be submitted under this article.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
Within the time fixed by by-law before the annual town meeting
is to convene, the town manager shall submit to the finance committee
a proposed operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year with an accompanying
budget message and supporting documents. The town manager shall simultaneously
provide for the publication on the town website of a general summary
of the proposed budget. The summary shall specifically indicate any
major variations from the current operating budget and the reason
for such changes. The notice shall further indicate the times and
places at which complete copies of the proposed operating budget will
be available for examination by the public. The summary of the budget
shall be mailed with the warrant to households with registered voters
as provided in the town by-laws.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
The budget message of the town manager shall include specifically,
projection of the fiscal and financial needs of the town for at least
the next 5 fiscal years, or such longer period as may be deemed appropriate,
both as to income and expenses, as well as any substantial financial
expenditures contemplated by any department, committee or board during
such period, including budget programs related to infrastructure maintenance,
improvement and expansion. The message shall also include a forecast
of any fiscal trends which the town manager believes are likely to
have an effect on the town's revenues or expenses.
The budget message of the town manager shall explain the budget
for all town agencies both in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs.
It shall outline proposed financial policies of the town for the ensuing
fiscal year, describe important features of the budget, indicate any
major variations from the current year in financial policies, expenditures
and revenues together with the reasons for such changes, summarize
the town's debt position and include other material as the town manager
deems desirable, or the select board may reasonably require.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
The proposed operating budget shall provide a complete financial
plan for all town funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year.
Except as may otherwise be required by general law, or this charter,
the budget shall be in the form which the town manager deems desirable
or the select board may require. In the presentation of the budget,
the town manager shall utilize modern concepts of fiscal presentation
so as to furnish maximum information and the best financial control.
The proposed budget shall show in detail all estimated income from
the proposed property tax levy and other sources and all proposed
expenditures, including debt service, for the following year. The
proposed budget shall be arranged to show the actual and estimated
income and expenditures for the previous, current and ensuing fiscal
years and shall indicate in separate sections:
(a)
proposed expenditures for current operations during the ensuing fiscal
year, detailed by town agency appropriation, and the method of financing
such expenditures;
(b)
proposed capital expenditures during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed
by town agency, and the proposed method of financing each such capital
expenditure;
(c)
estimated surplus revenue and free cash at the end of the current
fiscal year, including estimated balances in any special accounts
established for specific purposes; and
(d)
identification of all other available sources of funding.
(a)
Public Hearing - Upon receipt of the proposed operating budget, the
finance committee shall, forthwith, provide for the publication in
a local newspaper of a notice stating the time and place, not less
than 7 nor more than 14 days following such publication, at which
it will hold a public hearing on the proposed operating budget as
submitted.
(b)
Review - The finance committee shall consider, in open public meetings,
the detailed expenditures proposed for each town agency and may confer
with representatives of each such agency in connection with its review
and consideration. The finance committee may require the town manager,
or any other town agency, to furnish it with such additional information
as it may deem necessary to assist it in its review and consideration
of the proposed operating budget.
(c)
Action by Town Meeting - The finance committee shall file a report
containing its recommendations for actions on the proposed operating
budget, which report shall be available at least 7 days before the
date on which the town meeting acts on the proposed budget. Copies
of the report of the finance committee shall be available for distribution
to any person requesting the same at the office of the town clerk,
the office of the select board, the offices of the school administration
and at the public library of the town of Lunenburg. When the budget
proposed by the town manager is before the town meeting for action,
it shall first be subject to amendments, if any, proposed by the finance
committee before any other amendments shall be proposed.
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
[Amended 8-20-2020 by Ch. 167, Acts of 2020]
The town manager shall submit a capital improvement program
to the select board and the finance committee at least 150 days before
the start of each fiscal year. It shall be based on material prepared
by the capital planning committee established by by-law, including:
(a)
a clear and concise general summary of its contents;
(b)
a list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during
the ensuing 5 years, with supporting information as to the needs of
each capital improvement;
(c)
cost estimates, methods of financing and recommended time schedules
for each improvement; and
(d)
the estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining each facility
and piece of major equipment involved. This information is to be annually
revised by the town manager with regard to the capital improvements
still pending or in the process of being acquired, improved or constructed.
