[Added 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election; amended 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012; 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election; 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020]
At the onset of the annual budget process, the town manager shall meet with the select board, the Monomoy Regional School Committee and the finance committee to discuss the upcoming operating and capital budgets.
Within a time fixed by by-law, prior to the annual meeting, the town manager shall submit to the select board and the finance committee a proposed operating and capital budget for all town departments, including the operating and capital budgets as adopted by the Monomoy Regional School Committee, for the ensuing fiscal year with an accompanying budget message and supporting documents.
The budget as adopted by the Monomoy Regional School Committee shall be submitted to the town manager in sufficient time to enable the town manager to consider the effect of the school department's requested appropriation on the total town budget which is required to be submitted under this section.
The budget message submitted by the town manager shall explain the budget in fiscal terms and in terms of work programs. It shall outline the proposed fiscal policies of the town for the ensuing fiscal year, describe important features of the proposed budget and indicate any major variations from the current budget, fiscal policies, expenditures and revenues together with reasons for the changes. The proposed budget shall provide a complete fiscal plan of all town funds and activities and shall be in the form the select board deems desirable.
Upon receipt of the town manager's proposed operating budget, the select board shall announce the date on which they intend to act on the budget, but that date shall not be earlier than 30 days after receipt.
[Amended 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election; 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012; 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election; 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020]
The town manager shall submit a five-year capital improvement program to the select board and the finance committee at the date fixed by bylaw for the submission of the proposed operating budget unless some other time is provided by bylaw. The capital improvement program shall contain information regarding the cost of such program including a schedule of the existing principal and interest owed by the town. In addition, at least once every 10 years, a long-term facility master plan shall be created and/or updated for each of the major facility groups including but not limited to buildings, roads, sewer, water, storm drains, landings and piers, sidewalks, and parking facilities showing all major capital investments anticipated for the ensuing 20-25 years. Year one of the five-year capital improvement program shall be submitted as the capital improvement budget with the operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
Upon receipt of the town manager's proposed capital improvement budget, the select board shall announce the date on which they intend to act on the budget, but in no case earlier than 30 days after receipt.
[Amended 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election; 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012; 5-11-2015 ATM by Art. 26, approved 5-12-2016 Annual Town Election]
(a) 
The finance committee shall, upon receipt of the operating and capital budgets from the town manager, consider in public meetings the detailed expenditures for each town department and agency. The finance committee may request the town manager to provide necessary information from any town agency. The town manager shall promptly meet requests of the finance committee.
(b) 
The finance committee shall make budget recommendations and report those recommendations to the select board in sufficient time for the select board to consider those recommendations prior to the select board voting on the operating and capital budgets.
[Amended 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020]
(c) 
The finance committee shall report to the voters at the annual town meeting or at a special town meeting its advisory recommendations on all articles on the warrant for such town meetings.
[Added 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election[1]; amended 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012; 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020]
Within a time fixed by by-law, the select board shall review the operating and capital budget improvements program, make changes as deemed appropriate and place their approved budget on the annual town meeting warrant. The select board shall transmit their approved budget to the finance committee.
[1]
Editor's Note: This article also redesignated former Section 6-4 as Section 6-6.
[Added 5-11-2009 ATM by Art. 31, approved 5-13-2010 Annual Town Election; amended 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012; 1-13-2021 by Chapter 344, Acts of 2020]
The finance committee shall vote their recommendations for action on the budget as received from the select board. Additionally, the finance committee shall file a report of its recommendations for action prior to the date on which the town meeting is to act on the budget. The report of the finance committee shall include the fiscal and tax implications of the budget and a statement outlining support or opposition to the budget or sections of the budget. The report of the finance committee shall be prepared in sufficient time to be incorporated in the annual town meeting warrant. The budget to be acted upon by the town meeting shall be the budget approved by the select board with the accompanying recommendations of the finance committee.
[Amended 1-10-2013 by Chapter 457, Acts of 2012]
Warrants for payments of town funds, prepared by the town accountant, shall be submitted to the town manager for approval. The approval of any such warrant by the town manager shall be sufficient authority to authorize payment by the town treasurer.