(a) 
Annually, prior to the first day of October, the town manager shall establish and issue a budget schedule which shall set forth the calendar dates relating to the development of the annual operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
(b) 
The schedule shall be in accordance with this charter unless deviation therefrom is recommended by the town manager and approved by the select board and the finance committee.
(c) 
Annually, prior to the first day of October, the town manager shall request and receive from the director of municipal finance the estimated revenues for the ensuing fiscal year. Upon receipt of any additional specific fiscal data provided by the commonwealth or any other source, the director of municipal finance shall revise, update and submit the data forthwith to the town manager.
(d) 
Annually, prior to the first day of November, the select board, after consulting with the town manager, shall issue a policy statement that shall establish the general guidelines for the next town budget.
(e) 
All department heads and all multimember bodies shall submit their budget requests to the town manager at least 150 days before the date of the annual town meeting.
(f) 
At least 120 days prior to the scheduled date of the annual town meeting, the town manager shall submit to the select board and finance committee, simultaneously, a comprehensive draft budget for all town functions for the ensuing fiscal year and an accompanying draft budget message.
(g) 
The draft budget message shall explain the draft budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of what specific projects are contemplated in the year ahead. The message shall:
(1) 
Outline the proposed financial policies of the town for the ensuing fiscal year;
(2) 
Describe the important features of the budget;
(3) 
Indicate any major changes from the current fiscal year in financial policies, expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons for such changes;
(4) 
Summarize the town's debt position; and
(5) 
Include such other material as the town manager may deem appropriate.
(h) 
The draft budget shall provide a complete financial plan for all town funds and activities and shall be in such form as the town manager may establish in consultation with the finance committee. The draft budget shall state the proposed expenditures for operating expenses and for capital acquisitions during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed by each town agency and by specific purposes and projects.
(a) 
Within 30 days following the submission of the draft budget to the select board and the finance committee by the town manager, the select board shall adopt its proposed budget, with or without amendments, and submit the same with its recommendations to the finance committee.
(b) 
On receipt of the budgets for the Eastham elementary school committee, Nauset Regional School District committee and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School District Committee, each budget shall be submitted simultaneously to the select board and the finance committee. The select board shall, within 30 days of each submission, submit its recommendations of the school committee budgets to the finance committee.
(c) 
Meeting jointly, the select board and the finance committee shall conduct at least 1 public hearing on the proposed town budget and the school budgets. The select board or the finance committee may hold additional nonjoint public hearings on the budgets, if deemed necessary. The select board and the finance committee may jointly or separately require the town manager, any town department, office, board, commission or committee to appear or furnish appropriate financial reports and budgetary information.
(d) 
The finance committee shall vote on all articles and its recommendations shall be printed in the warrant as well as its finance committee report.
(e) 
The select board shall present the proposed budget to the annual town meeting.
The town meeting shall adopt the annual operating budget with or without amendments prior to the beginning of the fiscal year.
(a) 
The town manager shall prepare a 5-year capital improvements plan that shall be designed to deal with unmet long-range needs and to implement the goals and objectives of the official town plan.
(b) 
The capital improvements plan shall include all town activities and departments. Proposed capital expenditures for the regional school and other regional entities shall be included in the plan; provided, that such inclusion shall be consistent with regional or intermunicipal agreements establishing such entities.
(c) 
The capital improvements plan shall include:
(1) 
A clear summary of its contents;
(2) 
A list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the next 5 years, together with supporting data;
(3) 
Cost estimates, methods of financing and recommended time schedules; and
(4) 
The estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining the facilities or equipment to be constructed or acquired.
(d) 
The information required by subsection (c) may be revised and shall be extended each year with regard to capital improvements pending or in the process of construction or acquisition.
(e) 
After consultation with the finance committee, the town manager shall submit the 5-year capital improvements plan to the select board at least 120 days prior to the date of the annual town meeting. The select board shall act thereon within 30 days and shall then submit it to the finance committee.
The select board shall publish in 1 or more local newspapers the general summary of the 5-year capital improvements plan and a notice stating: (i) the times and places where copies of the capital improvements plan are available for inspection; and (ii) the date, time and place when the select board and the finance committee shall conduct a joint public hearing on the plan.
(a) 
The town meeting shall act on the 5-year capital improvements plan.
(b) 
No article for capital acquisition for the next fiscal year shall be inserted in the warrant for any town meeting unless it is in compliance with subsection (c) of section C7-4 and the capital acquisitions in said article were included in the last 5-year plan covering that fiscal year.
(c) 
The requirements of this section may be waived by a 4/5 vote of the town meeting.
Prior to the end of each fiscal year, the select board shall retain a certified public accountant or accounting firm to conduct an audit of all accounts, books, records and financial transactions of every department, office, board, commission and committee of the town government, including the school department.