§ 20-A §1486 — Budget validation referendum

After January 31, 2008, the procedure for approval of the annual budget of a regional school unit must be in accordance with this section and section 1485.
1.
Budget validation.
Following development of the annual regional school unit budget and approval at a regional school unit budget meeting as provided in section 1485, a referendum must be held in the regional school unit as provided in this section to allow the voters to validate or reject the total budget adopted at the regional school unit budget meeting.
2.
Validation referendum procedures.
The budget validation referendum must be held on or before the 45th calendar day following the scheduled date of the regional school unit budget meeting. The referendum may not be held on a Sunday or legal holiday. The vote at referendum is for the purpose of approving or rejecting the total regional school unit budget approved at the regional school unit budget meeting. The regional school unit board shall provide printed information to be displayed at polling places to assist voters in voting. That information is limited to the total amounts proposed by the regional school unit board for each cost center summary budget category article, the amount approved at the regional school unit budget meeting, a summary of the total authorized expenditures and, if applicable because of action on an article under section 15690, subsection 3, paragraph A, a statement that the amount approved at the regional school unit budget meeting includes locally raised funds that exceed the maximum state and local spending target pursuant to section 15671‑A, subsection 5. If the legislative body of the regional school unit at the regional school unit budget meeting approves an article pursuant to section 1485, subsection 5, the substance of the article must be included in the printed information displayed at polling places for the budget validation referendum.
3.
Budget validation referendum voting.
The method of calling and voting at a budget validation referendum is as provided in sections 1502 and 1503, except as otherwise provided in this subsection or as is inconsistent with other requirements of this section.
4.
Failure to approve budget.
If the voters do not validate the budget approved in the regional school unit budget meeting at the budget validation referendum vote, the regional school unit board shall hold another regional school unit budget meeting in accordance with this section and section 1485 at least 10 days but no longer than 45 days after the referendum to vote on a budget approved by the regional school unit board. The budget approved at the regional school unit budget meeting must be submitted to the voters for validation at referendum in accordance with this section. The process must be repeated until a budget is approved at a regional school unit budget meeting and validated at referendum. If a budget is not approved and validated before July 1st of each year, section 1487 applies.

Legislative History

PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW). PL 2007, c. 668, §§19, 20 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. G, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 98, §1 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 415, Pt. B, §§7, 8 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. E, §4 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. QQQ, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 171, §3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 678, Pt. B, §1 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 463, §2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 256, §1 (AMD).