Town of North Branford, CT Chapter 8 Budget and Spending

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of North Branford 1-2-1981 as Ord. No. 138. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 8-1 Purpose. [1]

A. It is the purpose of this chapter to accomplish the following:

(1) Assure fiscal responsibility.

(2) Limit and restrain spending by controlling increases in annual expenditures.

(3) Keep expenditures commensurate with or lower than growth in grand list annually.

B. It is not the intent of this chapter to set a mill rate, restrict the lowering of taxes or interfere with the present budgetary process or the annual budget meeting.

C. The North Branford Town Council, acting under authority duly granted, hereby adopts and enacts this chapter as a fiscal management regulation of the Town of North Branford, Connecticut.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance was passed by the electors 12-2-1980 at a mandatory referendum. A March 1, 1991, decision rendered by the Town Attorney found this ordinance to be invalid. A copy of said opinion is on file in the Town Clerk's office.

§ 8-2 Applicability.

This chapter shall apply to the annual budget, as presented to the townspeople for adoption, and any other appropriation or expenditure in any fiscal year.

§ 8-3 Limitation of spending increases.

Any increase in spending in the annual budget shall be limited to the following:

A. Revenue generated by growth in the taxable grand list annually, which shall be calculated at the previous year's mill rate.

B. Increases in state and federal assistance.

C. Grants and/or gifts from state, federal and private sources.

§ 8-4 Exceptions.

A. Notwithstanding the above limitations on spending, the Town Council may increase the annual budget by debt service to provide for the following:

(1) Court judgments or settlement of legal actions against the town and the costs incurred thereby.

(2) New or additional state-mandated expenditures.

(3) Expenditures occasioned by natural disaster, civil disorder or other emergencies when, by vote of the Town Council, it is determined that the expenditure is necessary to alleviate a serious condition endangering public health or safety.

(4) Nonrecurring capital expenditures and the purchase of fire-fighting vehicles.

B. Bonding for operating expenses or recurring capital expenditures shall not be considered as an exception hereunder.

§ 8-5 Decrease in state or federal funds.

In the event of a decrease in a state or federal assistance revenue account, the limit on total budget expenditures shall be reduced by the amount of the decrease in such account, unless revenue has been received in the account during the three (3) preceding years, in which case the Town Council may appropriate the amount they deem necessary, but not exceeding the amount of the previous year.

§ 8-6 Revaluation.

In the event of an increase in the taxable grand list due to revaluation, the actual amount of increase in budget expenditures shall be limited to the dollar amount of increase in the previous year's budget or less.