(a)
Annually, not later than October 1, the town manager, with the approval
of the select board and after consultation with the finance committee,
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. The budget schedule shall include:
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
i.
A date for the finance committee to receive the budget which shall
be at least one hundred and five (105) days in advance of the annual
town meeting; and
ii.
A date by which the select board shall adopt a balanced budget for
operations which shall be, as far as practicable, fifty-five (55)
days in advance of the annual town meeting.
iii.
A date by which the select board shall adopt a budget for capital
for presentation at the annual or a special town meeting.
(b)
The town manager shall notify the finance committee of material changes
to the budget then under consideration by the finance committee as
soon as reasonably possible after the identification of any such change.
(c)
Annually, not later than November 1, the finance committee, after
consultation with the select board, the school committee and the town
manager, shall issue a policy statement that shall establish the guidelines
for developing the next town budget.
(d)
All department heads, boards and committees, including the school committee, that have expense budgets shall submit detailed budgets to the town manager in accordance with the budget schedule established in subsection (a).
(e)
Upon receipt of the budgets referenced in subsection (d), the town manager shall prepare a budget in accordance with the schedule established in subsection (a). This budget shall provide a complete financial plan for all town funds and activities and shall be in such form as the town manager, in consultation with the finance committee and select board, may establish. The town manager's budget shall indicate proposed expenditures for current operations and for capital projects and expenditures during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed by each town department and by specific purposes and projects.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(f)
Annually, in accordance with the budget schedule established in subsection
7-1(a), the town manager shall also issue a budget report. This budget
report shall explain the town manager's budget both in fiscal terms
and in terms of what specific projects are contemplated for addition,
deletion or deferral in the ensuing fiscal year. It shall also include:
i.
A description of the important features of the budget;
ii.
An indication of any major changes from the current fiscal year in
financial policy, expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons
for such changes;
iii.
Actuals for the previous fiscal year;
iv.
A summary of the town's debt position;
v.
A report showing an estimate of revenues from all sources for the
ensuing fiscal year, along with the probable amount required to be
levied and raised by taxation;
vi.
A budget, including revenue, expenses and general subsidies for all
enterprise funds and revolving accounts for town government and the
school department; and
vii.
Such other material as the town manager and the school superintendent
may deem appropriate.
(g)
Annually, in accordance with the budget schedule established in subsection (a), the school committee shall also issue a budget report. This budget report shall explain the school department's budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of what specific projects are contemplated for addition, deletion or deferral in the ensuing fiscal year. It shall also include:
i.
A description of the important features of the budget;
ii.
An indication of any major changes from the current fiscal year in
financial policy, expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons
for such changes;
iii.
Actuals for the previous fiscal year;
iv.
A report showing an estimate of revenues from all sources for the
ensuing fiscal year, along with the probable amount required to be
levied and raised by taxation;
v.
A budget, including revenue, expenses and general subsidies for any
and all enterprise funds and revolving accounts for the school department;
and
vi.
Such other material as the school superintendent and school committee
may deem appropriate.
(h)
In addition to any notice required by the laws of the commonwealth,
the select board shall cause the report and recommendations of the
finance committee to be made available to the voters at least seven
(7) days prior to the annual town meeting.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(a)
The finance committee shall, upon receipt of the budget, including
enterprise funds and revolving accounts, and a capital improvement
program, consider in public meetings the detailed expenditures for
town departments proposed by the town manager. The finance committee
may confer with representatives from any town department in connection
with its deliberations. The finance committee may request the town
manager or any town department to provide additional information.
(b)
The finance committee shall file a proposed budget and report of
its recommendations for action fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled
date of the annual town meeting. The budget to be acted upon by town
meeting shall be the budget proposed by the town manager with the
accompanying recommendations of the finance committee.
(a)
The town manager shall submit a capital improvements program to the select board and finance committee in accordance with the budget schedule established in subsection (a) of section 7-1. Such program shall include a list of any improvements proposed to be undertaken during the next five (5) fiscal years and their estimated costs, including: non-routine repairs and major maintenance; renovations or additions to existing facilities; construction of new facilities; land acquisition; equipment and vehicle purchases; and public works projects. The list shall include items relating to all town departments, including the school department and the enterprise funds, and shall include items in excess of a dollar limit to be set annually by the select board.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(b)
The town manager shall also submit to the select board a status report
of any capital improvements that were approved as part of the budget
process for the current year's budget, but which have not yet been
substantially completed.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
(c)
Both the capital improvements program and the status report shall
be included in the presentation to the town meeting which is considering
the capital budget.
[Amended 1-6-2021 by Ch. 380 of the Acts of 2020]
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. The town manager shall have the
authority to designate in writing and filed with the town clerk and
the select board, an individual who, in the town manager's absence,
shall have the authority to approve the warrants which shall be sufficient
to authorize payment by the town.
The town manager on behalf of town government, the school superintendent
on behalf of the school department and the finance committee shall
create consistent, quarterly budget reports to be shared with town
government, the school department and the public. Such reports shall
include:
(a)
A description of the important features of the report;
(b)
An indication of any major changes from the current fiscal year in
financial policy, expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons
for such changes;
(c)
Actuals for the current fiscal year;
(d)
A report showing an estimate of revenues from all sources for the
ensuing fiscal year, along with the probable amount required to be
levied and raised by taxation;
(e)
A report, including revenue, expenses and general subsidies for all
enterprise funds and revolving accounts for town government and the
school department; and
(f)
Such other material as the town manager, school superintendent and
finance committee may deem appropriate.
