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.
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.