So much transpired at the Nov. 26, 2007 Middleboro Selectmen's Meeting, that I awaited some impressive headlines to inform the public of the BOS business.
Failing that, let me proceed slowly.
Below, you will find, for your consideration, some information about the responsibilities of the FINANCE COMMITTEE and several randomly selected towns. (Should you choose, a google search of Massachusetts' Finance Committees produces much additional information.)
Middleborough Town Charter:
SECTION FIVE: The committee shall consider and advise as to all matters relating to proposed appropriation and the matter of raising the amounts appropriated, and shall report in writing at each town meeting on all articles in the warrant relating to the appropriations or borrowing of money or the indebtedness of the town, with the exception of its action on the annual budget. The committee may make recommendations in writing at any time to the town, or to the Board of Selectmen, relating to the financial affairs of the town. It shall submit to the town at the Annual Town Meeting a report showing appropriations recommended for each fund or department, the estimated income from all sources, exclusive of taxes on property and poll taxes, the amount required to meet charges for interest and maturing indebtedness, and the estimated amount to be levied and raised by taxation to meet all expenses and liabilities of the town. Said report shall be filed with the Town Clerk on or before fifteen days prior to the fourth Monday of April, however, if not timely filed there will be no adverse affect to any action taken at town meeting. For the purpose of enabling the committee to perform its duties all Boards, Committees and Officers of town shall, on or before the twentieth day of January of each year, submit to the committee in writing, a detailed estimate of the appropriations required for the efficient and proper conduct of the departments under their charge during the ensuing fiscal year, and of all items of income to be received by such departments during said year and shall at any time, furnish any other information relative thereto in their possession which may be requested in writing by the committee. The Committee is hereby authorized to incur such expenses, as it may deem necessary, including the cost of the employment of experts and other assistants and the cost of printing its reports; provided, that such expenses shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars in any one year, unless a larger amount shall be appropriated for the purpose by the committee. Nothing herein shall be construed as limiting the power of the town to impose additional duties on the committee, in accordance with Section Sixteen of Chapter Thirty-nine of the General Laws.
PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT TITLE VII. CITIES, TOWNS AND DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 39. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT TOWN MEETINGS Chapter 39: Section 16. Appropriation, advisory or finance committees; appointment; tenure; powers and duties Section 16. Every town whose valuation for the purpose of apportioning the state tax exceeds one million dollars shall, and any other town may, by by-law provide for the election or the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees, who shall consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the town; and such by-laws may provide that committees so appointed or elected may continue in office for terms not exceeding three years from the date of appointment or election. In every town having a committee appointed under authority of this section, such committee, or the selectmen if authorized by a by-law of the town, and, in any town not having such a committee, the selectmen, shall submit a budget at the annual town meeting.
.... It considers any and all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations .....
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Committee considers and reports on all requests for appropriations made by the different departments of the town, considers all warrant articles to be presented at a town meeting and makes recommendations for action at the town meetings as they deem in the best interests of the town.
Franklin Finance Committee
6-2-3 The Finance Committee shall carry out its duties in accordance with the provisions of general law, this Charter and bylaw, and it shall have regular and free access and inspection rights to all books and accounts of any Town department or office. The Committee shall carefully examine all budget and appropriations proposals and shall issue its recommendations thereon prior to consideration, debate and vote by the Town Council.
Section 3 Submission of budget and budget message
6-3-1 Within the period provided by general law, the Town Administrator shall submit to the Town Council and file copies with the Finance Committee a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year with an accompanying budget message and support documents.
Section 4 Budget message
6-4-1 The budget message shall explain the budget for all Town agencies in 50th fiscal and programmatic terms. It shall: (a) outline proposed financial policies of the Town for the ensuing fiscal year; (b) describe important features of the budget; (c) indicate any major variations from the current year in financial policies, expenditures and revenues, together with the reasons of such variations; (d) summarize the Town's debt position; and (e) include such other materials as the Town Administrator may deem desirable or the Finance Committee may require.
Section 5 Budget Proposal
6-5-1 The proposed budget shall provide a complete financial plan for all Town funds and activities, including the proposed School Committee budget of the ensuing year. Except for the school budget or may be required by general law, it shall be in such form as the Town Administrator deems desirable or the Finance Committee may require.
6-5-2 In submitting the proposed budget, the Town Administrator shall utilize modern fiscal principals so as to afford maximum information and financial control. The budget shall detail all estimated revenue from the property tax levy and other sources and all proposed expenditures, including debt service to: the previous, current and ensuing years, and shall indicate separately: (a) proposed expenditures for 50th current operations and capital projects during the ensuring year, detailed by agency, purpose and position, together with proposed financing methods; and (b) estimated surplus revenue and free cash available at the close of the fiscal year, including estimated balances in special accounts. Section 6 Action on the proposed budget
6-6-1 The Town Council shall conduct at least two (2) public hearings on the proposed budget, and it shall publish, in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the Town, a general summary of the budget and a notice stating: (a) the times and places where copies of the budget shall be available for inspection, and (b) the dates, times and places, not less than fourteen (14) days after such publication, when the public hearings on the budget proposal shall be conducted. The Finance Committee shall issue printed recommendations and make copies available at the time of the public hearings. 6-6-2 The Town Council shall adopt the budget, with or without amendments, prior to the close of the current fiscal year. Adoption of the budget shall constitute appropriation of the amounts specified therein. CHARTER
Since the Middleboro BOS are fond of repeating the fiscal condition of ALL other cities and towns, I found this figure significant:
The Finance Committee is the Town's official fiscal watchdog. The committee has oversight responsibility for all financial matters, including revenue and trust funds as well as expenditures.
What does the finance committee do?
The finance committee prepares the budget in the months before the annual Town Meeting starts. It also prepares financial articles (which are agenda items). Its recommendations are advisory. In some towns, the committee is known as the warrant committee or the advisory committee. Depending on a town’s by-laws, members of the finance committee are appointed by the selectmen or moderator, or elected by voters or the Town Meeting. In many towns, the finance committee'sreport is distributed to all residences.
MMA offers a list of ALL
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