Revision: Nov. 2, 2021, 3:11 p.m.
HB 1070 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2087
10/08
HOUSE BILL 1070
AN ACT relative to the default budget in official ballot jurisdictions.
SPONSORS: Rep. Boehm, Hills. 20
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the default budget in an official ballot town or district to be reduced by any reduction to an appropriation the governing body made in the proposed operating budget.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2087
10/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT relative to the default budget in official ballot jurisdictions.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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[,] :
(1) Reduced [and] or increased[, as the case may be,] by debt service, contracts, and other obligations previously incurred or mandated by law[, and].
(2) 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.
(3) Less any reduction to an appropriation the governing body made in the proposed operating budget.
(c) For the purposes of this [paragraph] subparagraph (b), 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)] (d) "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, but shall not be limited to, 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)] IX(c);[ and]
(4) Reductions for eliminated positions and benefit expenditures as defined under subparagraph IX(b)[.] ; 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.