N.H. Rev. Stat. § 197:3-a — NH Code / Title XV / Chapter 197 / Section 3-a
197:3-a Special Meeting for Change in Education Funding.
Status: in_force

In response to statutory changes resulting in reductions or increases in distribution of state revenues for education pursuant to RSA 198:41 to school districts which would take effect after the adoption of a new school district budget and would apply in the fiscal year covered by the new budget, the governing body of a school district may, after consultation with the budget committee, call a special meeting of the legislative body to consider a reduction, rescission, or increase of appropriations made at an annual meeting, subject to the following: I. The governing body of a school district that has adopted the official ballot referendum form of meeting under RSA 40:13 may elect to hold and conduct the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this section in a single session for deliberating and voting, and without regard to the provisions of RSA 40:13. II. A special meeting under this section shall not be petitioned under RSA 197:2, and no petitioned warrant articles shall be inserted in the warrant. III. The governing body's warrant shall specify, in one or more articles, the amounts of appropriations proposed for reduction, rescission, or increase from the operating budget or separate warrant articles, or both, adopted at the annual meeting. IV. The governing body shall hold a public hearing on the proposed reductions, rescissions, or increase at least 14 days prior to the meeting. Notice of the time, place, and subject of such hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places within the school district, one of which shall be on the school district's website, if such exists, at least 7 days prior to the hearing. V. The governing body of such school district shall post a notice of the meeting, which shall include the warrant, in at least 2 public places within the school district, one of which shall be on the school district's website, if such exists, at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Additional notice shall be published in a newspaper of local or regional circulation in the school district, provided that if there is no newspaper of local or regional circulation in which notice can be published at least 7 days before the date of the meeting, public notice shall be posted in at least one additional place within the school district. VI. The meeting shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. The most recently updated checklist shall be used. VII. The legislative body may approve or disapprove any proposed reduction, rescission, or increase of appropriations, or may approve lesser reductions. The legislative body shall not approve greater reductions than what is in the warrant, or reduce or rescind an appropriation not specified in the warrant, or act on any other business at the meeting. VIII. Except as provided in this section, the provisions of the following chapters, as they apply to special meetings of the legislative body of a school district, shall not be required for special meetings held pursuant to this paragraph: RSA 32, RSA 39, RSA 49-D, RSA 197, RSA 654, RSA 669, RSA 670, and RSA 671.