1. Proposed budget. The county commissioners shall submit itemized budget estimates, as described in sections 701, 702 and 7503, to the budget committee in a timely fashion, no later than 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal year.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
2. Budget review process. The budget committee shall review the proposed itemized budgets prepared by the county commissioners, together with any supplementary material prepared by the head of each county department or provided by any independent board, institution or another governmental agency. The budget committee may make recommendations concerning any increase, decrease, alteration or revision to the proposed budget. These activities must be done 60 days before the end of the county's fiscal year.
[PL 2007, c. 663, §13 (AMD).]
3. Meeting with legislative delegation.
[PL 1995, c. 520, §2 (RP).]
4. Public hearing. The county commissioners shall hold a public hearing in the county on the proposed budget at least 30 days before the end of the county's fiscal year and before the final adoption of the budget. Notice of the hearing must be given at least 10 days before the hearing in all newspapers of general circulation within the county. Written notice and a copy of the proposed budget must be sent or delivered to the clerk of each municipality in the county and to the members of the budget committee in accordance with section 701, subsection 3. The municipal clerk shall notify the municipal officials of the proposed budget and the date of the public hearing.
[PL 2023, c. 87, §7 (AMD).]
5. Adoption of budget. After the public hearing is completed, the county commissioners may further increase, decrease, alter and revise the proposed itemized budgets as long as:
A. The county commissioners enter into their minutes and submit to the budget committee a statement of their bases for any rejection of any recommendation of the budget committee; and [PL 2007, c. 663, §13 (AMD).]
B. The county commissioners hold a public meeting at least 21 days before the end of the county's fiscal year with the budget committee to discuss any rejections. [PL 2007, c. 663, §13 (AMD).]
The proposed itemized budget must be finally adopted by a majority vote of the county commissioners at a duly called meeting not later than 15 days before the end of the county's fiscal year.
[PL 2007, c. 663, §13 (AMD).]
6. Interim approval by legislative delegation.
[PL 1995, c. 520, §2 (RP).]
7. Final budget approval.
[PL 1995, c. 520, §2 (RP).]
8. Assessment of taxes. The budget is the final authorization for the assessment of county taxes. The budget must be sent to the county commissioners and the county tax authorized must be apportioned and collected in accordance with section 706. The budget for the unorganized territories must be sent to the State as provided by section 7503.
[PL 1995, c. 520, §3 (AMD).]
9. Interim budget. Until a budget is finally adopted, the county shall operate on an interim budget that may not exceed the previous year's budget.
[PL 2007, c. 663, §13 (AMD).]
10. Transfer of funds. The county commissioners may transfer funds as provided in section 922.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
