The president of the town council shall call a meeting of the
town council prior to the commencement of the budget process, but
not later than November 30, to review the financial condition of the
town, revenue and expenditure forecasts and other information relevant
to the budget process. The president also shall invite representatives
of the school committee and trustees of the Stetson Fund to attend
this meeting. Subsequent to this meeting, the town council shall meet
to set policy goals with input from the town manager and the community.
Based on these goals, the town manager shall develop budgetary goals
and the town budget.
The town manager shall, within 7 days after the receipt of departmental
budget proposals, but in no event later than February first, prepare
and submit to the town council a synopsis of all proposed budget initiatives
and requests for additional funding for its review and prioritization.
The synopsis shall include a summary of each initiative, its justification
and the estimated costs therefor. Councillors may also propose budget
initiatives for review and prioritization. Any such proposal shall
include a summary, justification and estimate of costs. The town manager
shall provide an estimate of projected revenues.
By the first regularly scheduled town council meeting in April,
or a later date if approved by a vote of the town council, the town
manager shall submit to the town council a proposed operating budget
for the ensuing fiscal year, which shall provide a complete financial
plan of all town funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year,
an accompanying budget message and supporting documents. The preliminary
budget, as adopted by the school committee, shall be submitted to
the town manager at least 90 days before the town manager's presentation
of the budget to the council to enable the town manager to consider
the effect of the school department's requested appropriation
upon the total town budget.
The message of the town manager shall explain the proposed budget
for all town agencies, both in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs.
It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the town for the
ensuing fiscal year, describe the important features of the budget,
indicate any major changes from the current fiscal year in terms of
financial policies, expenditures or revenues, together with the reasons
for such changes, summarize the town's debt position and include
such other material as the town manager deems desirable or that the
town council may reasonably require.
(a)
Public Hearing - The town council shall, within 7 days following
its receipt of the proposed budget, publish in 1 or more local newspapers
the general summary of the proposed budget as submitted by the town
manager and a notice stating: (1) the times and places where complete
copies of the proposed budget and supporting documents shall be available
for examination by the public; and (2) the date, time and place, not
less than 10 days after such publication, when the town council, or
a standing committee of the town council, shall hold a public hearing
on the proposed budget as submitted by the town manager.
(b)
Adoption - The town council shall adopt the budget, with or without
amendments, within 60 days following the day the proposed budget is
received by it, or such other period as may be provided by general
law. In amending the budget, the town council may delete or decrease
any programs or amounts, except expenditures required by the laws
of the commonwealth or for debt service. If the town council fails
to take any action with respect to any item in the proposed budget
within 60 days following the date of its receipt of the proposed budget,
or such other period as may be provided by general law, such amount
shall, without any action by the town council, become a part of the
appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year and shall be available
for the purposes specified.
Each year an outside audit of the books and accounts of the
town shall be conducted. In the event that the commonwealth shall
fail in any such period to provide for such an audit to be conducted,
within 60 days following the date the town council makes a written
request therefor, the town council shall provide for such an audit
to be conducted by a certified public accountant, or firm of such
accountants.
(a)
Submission - The town manager shall prepare and submit to the town
council a 5-year capital outlay program at least 3 months prior to
the final date for submission of a proposed annual operating budget.
(b)
Contents - The capital outlay program in the form submitted shall
include:
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a clear general summary of its contents;
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a listing of all capital expenditures which are proposed to
be made during the 5 fiscal years next ensuing, with appropriate financial
and other details concerning each such expenditure;
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cost estimates, proposed methods of financing and a time schedule
for each such expenditure; and
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the estimated annual cost of operating or maintaining any facilities
to be acquired or constructed.
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The information required by this subsection shall be revised
and extended annually.
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