HP0272, LD 397, item 1, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Development and Administration of Municipal Budgets in Unorganized Territories

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Development and Administration of Municipal Budgets in Unorganized Territories

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §7503, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 502, Pt. C, §12, is amended to read:

1. Procedure. Before November 7th February 1st of each year, the county commissioners of each county shall provide to the members of the county legislative delegation fiscal administrator of the unorganized territory a preliminary budget for the services to be provided under this chapter to the unorganized territory in the next fiscal year. These preliminary budgets shall must be provided in a form that shows how the funds are to be spent for each category of service identified in section 7501 and any projected surplus for the year of unorganized territory funds held by the county. The county commissioners shall must provide an opportunity for public comment on the preliminary budget at the same time as in a public hearing is held on in one or more locations within the county budget, as provided under Part 1, chapter 3, subchapter I in the month of December or January preceding the February 1st deadline.

The budget for the unorganized territory shall be finalized at the same time as the regular county budget. A copy of the finalized budget and an accurate identification of any surplus which that can be used to reduce the amount needed to be collected in taxes shall must be submitted to the State Tax Assessor and to the fiscal administrator of the unorganized territory by January March 1st of each year.

Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §1604, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 1985, c. 459, Pt. C, §14, is amended to read:

1. Recommendation to the Legislature. The fiscal administrator of the unorganized territory shall submit to the Legislature, by March April 1st, annually, a bill listing the requests of all counties and agencies under this chapter.

Sec. 3. 36 MRSA §1611, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 624, §1, is amended to read:

A. A governmental body with the authority to approve the county municipal cost component under Title 30-A, chapter 305 may exceed or increase the county growth limitation only if that action is approved by a majority of the county budget committee or county budget advisory committee and the county commissioners.

summary

This bill amends the laws governing the development and administration of the county portion of municipal cost component budgets for the unorganized territory.

The bill changes counties' annual deadlines for submitting to state officials their unorganized territory municipal cost component budgets from November 7th to February 1st.

The bill separates a county's review of its unorganized territory municipal cost component budget from its general fund budget review, thus allowing more time for both processes.

The bill also eliminates the role of a county budget committee in approving an excess or increase in the county growth limitation factor for the unorganized territory.

HP0272 LD 397	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 1836 Item 1
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