The Annual Town Budget Meeting Needs You!

by Lynn K. McMullin

On Thursday, April 15th, at its 4:00 p.m. meeting, the Board of Finance accepted the Board of Education’s and the Board of Selectman’s budgets.

What Happens Next?
Following a newsletter communication in the next week or so, the town will hold its Annual Town Budget Meeting on Monday, May 10th, at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. This is a particularly significant town meeting this year in that, due to the new charter revision, 150 voting residents at the meeting will constitute a quorum and if 150 attend a vote on the budget will be taken that night.  If fewer than 150 residents attend the meeting, the budget will automatically go to a referendum which will be scheduled for a date within 2 weeks.  Since referendums cost the town additional money, it’s in Canton's best interests that residents come out 'in droves' to vote at the May 10th meeting.

I found it interesting reading, and since many people haven’t seen it yet, I’m including the relevant portion of actual Charter Revision here:
A. Date and Quorum Requirement – An Annual Budget Meeting to vote on the Town budget recommended by the Board of Finance shall be held at a time and date during the month of May determined by the Board of Finance. The presence of one hundred fifty (150) Voters as determined by the Registrars of Voters immediately prior to taking the vote shall be required to constitute a quorum.

B. Approval by Town Meeting – By vote at the Annual Budget Meeting, any appropriation or item in an appropriation may be decreased or deleted, but no appropriation or item in an appropriation may be increased or added. The vote on the budget shall be by secret ballot. In the event that the budget is not approved by vote of a majority of persons qualified to vote at an Annual Budget Meeting at which a quorum is present, then the budget shall be returned to the Board of Finance for review, adjustment and revision and the Annual Budget Meeting shall be adjourned to a date not later than twenty-one (21) days subsequent thereto, to be set by the Board of Finance. The Board of Finance shall then present the budget to the adjourned Annual Budget Meeting in accordance with this Section of the Charter and, if necessary, the process set forth in this Section shall be repeated until a budget is approved.

C. Provision for Referendum – In the event that a quorum shall not exist, the vote on the proposed budget shall be conducted by a referendum. A referendum shall also be required in the event that a Petition to approve the budget by referendum vote is signed by one hundred fifty (150) Persons qualified to vote at Town Meetings and is filed with the Town Clerk not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) day prior to the Annual Budget Meeting. The date of the referendum shall be set by the Board of Selectmen so as to occur not less than seven (7) nor more than fourteen (14) days after the date of the Annual Budget Meeting. The referendum shall be held from 6:00 a.m.until 8:00 p.m. Any succeeding budget shall be submitted to referendum.

D. Finality of Approval – When the budget is approved either by secret ballot at the Annual Budget Meeting or by referendum, such action shall be final and may not be rescinded.