1 Official Ballot Town Meeting; Definition; Default Budget. Amend RSA 40:13, IX(b) and (c) to read as follows:

(b) "Default budget" as used in this subdivision means the amount of the same appropriations as contained in the operating budget authorized for the previous year,

Reduced and increased, as the case may be, by debt service, contracts, and other obligations previously incurred or mandated by law, and

Reduced by one-time expenditures contained in the operating budget and by salaries and benefits of positions that have been eliminated in the proposed budget.

For the purposes of this paragraph , one-time expenditures shall be appropriations not likely to recur in the succeeding budget, and eliminated positions shall not include vacant positions under recruitment or positions redefined in the proposed operating budget, as determined by the governing body, unless the provisions of RSA 40:14-b are adopted, of the local political subdivision. In calculating the default budget amount, the governing body shall follow the statutory formula which may result in a higher or lower amount than the proposed operating budget.

(c) "Contracts" as used in this subdivision means contracts previously approved, in the amount so approved, by the legislative body in either the operating budget authorized for the previous year or in a separate warrant article for a previous year.

2 Use of Official Ballot; Default Budget. Amend RSA 40:13, XI(a) to read as follows:

XI.(a) The default budget shall be disclosed and presented for questions and discussion at the first budget hearing held pursuant to RSA 32:5 or RSA 197:6. The governing body, unless the provisions of RSA 40:14-b are adopted, shall complete a default budget form created by the department of revenue administration to demonstrate how the default budget amount was calculated. The line item details for changes under subparagraph (2) shall be available for inspection by voters. The form and associated calculations shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) Appropriations contained in the previous year's operating budget;

(2) Reductions and increases to the previous year's operating budget including identification of specific items that constitute a change by account code, and the reasons for each change;

(3) One-time expenditures as defined under subparagraph IX(b) ; and

(4) Reductions for eliminated positions and benefit expenditures as defined under subparagraph IX(b).

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 Official Ballot Town Meeting; Definition; Default Budget. Amend RSA 40:13, IX(b) and (c) to read as follows:

(b) "Default budget" as used in this subdivision means the amount of the same appropriations as contained in the operating budget authorized for the previous yearand, as the case may be,, andparagraph, of the local political subdivision(c)or RSA 197:6, at a minimum,IX(b) and. ; and*

(5) Any reductions made by the governing body in the proposed operating budget.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.