The fiscal year of the Town shall begin on the first (1st) day
of July and shall end on the thirtieth (30th) day of June.
The head of each department, office, board, commission or agency
of the Town supported wholly or in part by Town funds, or for which
a specific Town appropriation is made, shall set forth in the budget,
in narrative or in such other forms as the Mayor may prescribe, a
program or programs showing services, activities, and work accomplished
during the current fiscal year and to be accomplished during the ensuing
fiscal year.
Not later than the third Tuesday in March the Mayor, with the
approval of the Town Council, shall present to the Board of Finance
a budget consisting of:
(a) A budget message outlining the financial position of the Town Government
and describing in connection therewith the important features of the
budget plan indicating any major changes from the current year in
financial policies, expenditures and revenue together with the current
reasons for such changes, and containing a clear general summary of
its contents.
(b) Estimates of revenue, presenting in parallel columns the itemized
receipts collected in the last completed fiscal year prior to the
time of preparing the estimates, total receipts estimated to be collected
during the current fiscal year, estimates of the receipts other than
from the property tax, to be collected in the ensuing fiscal year,
and an estimate of available surplus.
(c) Itemized detailed estimates of expenditures, in a form acceptable
to the Board of Finance, then summarized, presenting in parallel columns,
actual expenditures for each department, office, board, commission
and agency for the last completed fiscal year, actual expenditures
of the first six months of the current fiscal year, estimated expenditures
of the second six months of the current fiscal year, department requests
for the succeeding fiscal year, and the recommendations of the Town
Council, provided that the Town Council may offer other recommendations,
and such other information as may be required by the Board of Finance.
(d) As part of the budget the Mayor shall present a program of municipal
improvements, approved by the Town Council and previously approved
in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes and Town ordinances
for the ensuing fiscal year and for the four (4) fiscal years thereafter.
Estimates of the costs of such projects shall be submitted by each
department, office, board, commission or agency annually by February
first in the form and manner prescribed by the Mayor. The Town Council
shall then recommend to the Board of Finance those projects to be
undertaken during the ensuing fiscal year and for the four (4) fiscal
years thereafter and the method of financing the same.
The Mayor shall present reasons for all such proposals and recommendations.
In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere in this Charter,
the Board of Finance shall:
(a) Have the power, by resolution and only upon the recommendation of
a majority of the entire Town Council, to make appropriations supplemental
to those provided in the annual budget. In the event the Board of
Finance fails to approve a supplemental appropriation recommended
by a majority of the entire Town Council, the Town Council may, by
a two-thirds vote of the entire Town Council, overrule the Board of
Finance and approve a supplemental appropriation. For such an overrule
to be considered, a majority of the Town Council must petition the
Mayor to call a special meeting of the Town Council for purposes of
the same.
(b) Also have the power, by resolution, upon the recommendation of a
majority of the entire Town Council, to incur indebtedness, and shall
have such other powers and duties not inconsistent or in conflict
with, or contrary to this Charter, conferred or imposed by the Connecticut
General Statutes on Town Boards of Finance.
(c) Within five (5) business days following the adoption of the Budget,
fix the tax rate in mills which shall be levied on the taxable property
in the Town for the ensuing fiscal year. The budget will be deemed
adopted once each portion of the budget has passed at referendum.
(d) For the purposes of Chapter 111 of the Connecticut General Statutes,
have the power to select the independent public accountant.
(e) Have the power to advise the Director of Finance and approve or reject
the investment of any town funds exceeding one eighth of one mill
— or exceeding one half of one mill in the aggregate during
the course of a fiscal year - in one or more of the following:
(1)
time deposits of greater than 364 days;
It shall be the duty of the Tax Collector to issue to each taxpayer
a tax bill prepared in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 204
of the Connecticut General Statutes. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Charter, the assessment of property for taxation
and the collection of taxes shall be carried on in accordance with
the provisions of Chapters 203 and 204 of the Connecticut General
Statutes.
The Town shall have the power to incur indebtedness by issuing
its bonds or notes as provided by the Connecticut General Statutes
subject to the limitations thereof and the provisions of this Charter.
The issuance of any such bonds and notes, except tax anticipation
notes, shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the Town Meeting
as provided in Section 903 of the Charter.