At least 120 days prior to the start of the fiscal year, the administrative officer, under the direction of the board of selectmen, shall file with the appropriation committee a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year with an accompanying message and supporting documents.
The message of the administrative officer shall explain the proposed 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 administrative officer deems desirable or as the selectmen may require.
The proposed operating budget shall provide a complete financial plan of all town funds and activities, including the budget adopted by the school committee, for the ensuing fiscal year. Except for the school budget or as may be required by statute or by this charter, it shall be in the form which the administrative officer deems desirable or the selectmen may require. In his presentation of the proposed budget, the administrative officer 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 so arranged as 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 agency and position in terms of work programs, 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; and
(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.
The total of the proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of the proposed income.
The administrative officer, under the direction of the board of selectmen, shall submit a capital improvement program to the appropriation committee at least 150 days before the start of each fiscal year. It shall include (a) a clear, concise general summary of its contents, (b) a list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the next ensuing five fiscal years, with supporting information as to the need for each such 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. If advisable, this information is to be annually revised with regard to the capital improvements still pending or in the process of being acquired, improved or constructed.
(a)
The board of selectmen and the appropriation committee shall jointly hold one or more public hearings on the proposed budget not less than seven days before the town meeting at which it is to be submitted for adoption.
(b)
When the proposed budget is before the town meeting for action, it shall first be subject to amendments, if any, proposed by the appropriation committee before any other amendments shall be proposed.
Copies of the entire proposed budget, including capital improvements, shall be made available for examination at the office of the administrative officer during normal working hours, at least 120 days prior to the start of the fiscal year. Statements summarizing the budget and the capital improvements program, as adopted by town meeting, and related warrant articles, shall be made available at the office of the administrative officer for public examination by the 20th day after their adoption.
All warrants shall be signed by the administrative officer and by the accountant after this preaudit. If the office of administrative officer is vacant, signatures of a majority of the board of selectmen and accountant shall suffice.
Warrants for payment of the Northborough school department vouchers and payrolls shall also require the signature of the superintendent of schools, and in the event of his absence or a vacancy in that office, the signatures of a majority of the members of the school committee. Other reasonable safeguards for the protection of the expenditures of public funds may also be adopted by bylaw.
All fees or other revenues collected by a town officer or employee, except constables, in his official capacity, shall be paid into the treasury of the town, and shall not accrue to the benefit of any individual.