2007-11-14 Ad hoc Budget Schedule Report

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OPTIMAL BUDGET SCHEDULE An optimal budget provides an override election at the earliest possible date while meeting the constraints of the laws and bylaws governing the budget process, while informing and satisfying the general public, and without changing the circumstances in which Town Meeting votes the budget. The constraints unposed by the law are summarized first. LAG FROM BUDGET TO TOWN MEETING The Selectmen are legally required to submit a budget four weeks before it is taken up by Town Meeting. Section 90 -13. Submission of budset to Town Meeting. [Added 4 -5 -1989 ATM by Art. 48; amended 4 -10 -2000 ATM byArt. 231 The Selectmen shall submit a budget at the Annual Town Meeting The Selectmen's proposed budget shall be distributed to the Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee and to each Town Meeting member at least four weeks prior to the date when the Annual Town Meeting is scheduled to consider it. REVIEW BY APPROPRIATION COMMIT 1tiE Section 118 -12. Motions and order of business. D. No motion canying an expenditure or appropriation of money, except where such expenditure it required by law, shall be acted upon at any town meeting until some report thereon has been remade by the Appropriation Committee. The law does not specify the lag time between the Appropriation Committee's report and deliberation by Town Meeting. In Lexington, the Appropriation Committee has tried to provide its report a week before consideration in Town Meeting. TIMING OF TOWN EI ECI'IONS AND TOWN MEETING The annual Town Meeting, by state law, inust convene in February, March, April, or May. 5