10/20/2025 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

5. publish in a local newspaper the budget summary at the same time as the first notice of availability. The budget message shall specifically indicate any major variations from the current operating budget and the reason for such changes, and include supporting documentation including a budget explanation, narrative, and analysis, as appropriate. The budget message shall explain the proposed budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of the work programs linking those programs to organizational goals and community priorities. It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the town for the ensuing fiscal year and the impact of those policies on future years. It shall describe the important features of the budget, indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies, expenditures, and revenues together with the reasons for such changes, summarize the town's debt position, including factors affecting the ability to raise resources through debt issuances, report on the accomplishment of performance standards and goals established in prior budgets and include such other material as the Town Manager deems desirable. The budget summary shall be a concise overview and indicate the sources of appropriations and revenues along with corresponding fund balances where appropriate and available. Once the Town Meeting Warrant is approved and executed by the Select Board, the budget message and summary shall be updated by the Town Manager. At least two-weeks prior to Town Meeting, the Town Manager shall post the update on the Town’s official website for public access, and shall place copies of the update at the Mashpee Public Library and at Town Hall for public display and examination. To delete SECTION 6-4: BUDGET MESSAGE in its entirety, and renumber the remaining sections accordingly. To amend the current SECTION 6-5: THE BUDGET by inserting in the second sentence of the first paragraph the below bold italicized text, as follows: The budget shall begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in detail all estimated income, indicating the proposed property tax levy, specifying the funding sources and all proposed expenditures, including debt service, for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures for the current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures for the preceding fiscal year. Or take any other action relating thereto. Submitted by the Select Board Explanation: The foregoing changes to the Town Charter are recommended by the Charter Review Committee. Article 12 requires a 2/3 vote to pass The Select Board recommends approval of Article 12 by a vote of 5-0 The Finance Committee recommends approval of Article 12 by a vote of 4-0 Motion made by Select Board Member Cotton Motion: I move the Town vote to approve Article 12 as printed in the warrant, with the exception of the phrase “or take any other action relating thereto.” Motion passes 300 to 31 at 8:50PM