An Act To Remove Impediments to Changing County Government Fiscal Years (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2302
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: MILLETT, HAYES, PATRICK, SYKES
Amends: 30-A MRSA §701, 30-A MRSA §702, 30-A MRSA §706, 30-A MRSA §741-A, 30-A MRSA §742-A, 30-A MRSA §763, 30-A MRSA §764, 30-A MRSA §76, 30-A MRSA §793, 30-A MRSA §794, 30-A MRSA §79, 30-A MRSA §825, 30-A MRSA §832, 30-A MRSA §862, 30-A MRSA §883, 30-A MRSA §884, 30-A MRSA §892, 30-A MRSA §893, 30-A MRSA §896, 30-A MRSA §900-B, 30-A MRSA §900-C, 30-A MRSA §900-N

Legislative Document 
No. 2302 
H.P.1660 
House of Representatives, April 4, 2008 
An Act To Remove Impediments to Changing County Government 
Fiscal Years 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative MILLETT of Waterford. 
7J/~ 
1?1.7l!d£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: HAYES of Buckfield, PATRICK of Rumford, SYKES of 
Harrison. 
PrUlteo lln n:l:ydt'll parer 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 30-A MRS A §701, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and 
Pt. C, § 1 06 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is 
further amended to read: 
2. 
Preparation of estimates. 
In order to assess a county tax, the county 
commissioners, prior to November 7th in eaeh year at least 55 days before the end of the 
county's fiscal year, shall prepare estimates of the sums necessary to pay the expenses 
wfl.ielt that have accrued or may probably accrue for the coming year, including the 
building and repairing of jails, courthouses and appurtenances, with the debts owed by 
their counties. 
The estimates must be drawn so as to authorize the appropriations to be made to each 
department or agency of the county government for the year. The estimates must provide 
specific amounts for personal services, contractual services, commodities, debt service 
and capital expenditures. 
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §701, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2003, c. 696, §6, is further 
amended to read: 
3. Public hearing. The county commissioners shall hold a public hearing in the 
county on these estimates before Deeember 31st the end of the county's fiscal year. They 
shall publish a notice of the hearing at least 10 days before the hearing in a newspaper of 
general circulation within the county. Written notice and a copy of the estimates must be 
sent by mail or delivered in person to the clerk of each municipality in the county at least 
days before the hearing. The municipal clerk shall notify the municipal officers of the 
receipt of the estimates. 
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §702, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 696, §8, is 
amended to read: 
§702. Estimates recorded and sent to State Auditor 
The county clerk shall record the estimates made under section 701. A copy of the 
estimates must be signed by the chair of the county commissioners and attested to by the 
county commissioners' clerk. On or before the first day of eaeh Janl:lary the fiscal year, 
the clerk shall transmit that copy to the State Auditor, who shall retain the copy for 3 
years. These records are a public record at the office of the county commissioners in the 
county that submitted those records. 
Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §706, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, 
§106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further 
amended to read: 
§706. Apportionment of county tax; warrants 
When a county tax is authorized, the county commissioners, within 30 days of that 
authorization. shall apportion it the tax upon the municipalities and other places 
according to the last state valuation and fix the date for the payment of the tax. This date 
may not be earlier than the first day of the follo'NiRg September 9th month of the county's 
fiscal year. They may add that sum above the sum so authorized, not exceeding 2% of 
that sum, as a fractional division necessitates and demonstrate that necessity in the record 
of that apportionment, and issue their warrant to the assessors requiring them to 
immediately assess the sum apportioned to their municipality or place, and to commit 
their assessment to the constable or collector for collection. The county treasurer shall 
immediately certify the millage rate to the State Tax Assessor. The State Tax Assessor 
shall separately assess this millage rate upon the real and personal property in the 
unorganized territory within the appropriate county. 
The county may collect delinquent county taxes and charge interest on delinquent 
county taxes as provided under Title 36, sections 891, 892 and 892-A. 
Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §741-A, sub-§l,~, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 380, §4 and 
affected by § 1 0, is amended to read: 
B. 
OR or before August 15ta of eaea year No later than 135 days before the end of 
the county's fiscal year the county commissioners shall notify all municipal officers 
to caucus by county commissioner district at a specified date, time and place for the 
purpose of electing members to the budget committee. Public notice of the meeting 
must be issued at least 10 days before the meeting is held. 
Sec. 6. 30-A MRSA §742-A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 380, §6 and affected by 
§ 10, is amended to read: 
§742-A. Budget procedures 
1. Budgetary planning meetings. During tae mORta of September the 4th month 
before the end of the county's fiscal year, county commissioners shall meet with the 
county manager and county department heads to establish county budgetary needs for the 
ensuing year. County budget advisory committee members shall attend these meetings, 
which must be held in the county courthouse and must be open to the public. 
2. Draft budget. OR or before Oetober 1 st Ninety days prior to the beginning of the 
fiscal year, the county commissioners shall submit a draft budget to the budget advisory 
committee. 
3. Proposed budget. The budget advisory committee shall review the draft budget 
with the county commissioners at meetings during the mORta of Oetober 3rd month prior 
to the beginning of the fiscal year and shall prepare a proposed budget. The budget 
advisory committee may increase, decrease or alter the county commissioners' draft 
budget as long as: 
A. 
The budget advisory committee enters into its minutes an explanation for any 
suggested change in the estimated expenditures and revenues initially presented by 
the county commissioners; and 
B. 
In the proposed budget, the total estimated revenue, together with the amount of 
county tax to be levied, at least equals the total estimated expenditures. 
4. Public hearings. Public hearings on the proposed budget must be held by the 
budget advisory committee and county commissioners in each commissioner's district 
before November 30th at least one month prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Notice 
of these hearings must be given at least 10 days before the hearing in newspapers of 
general circulation within the county. Written notice and a copy of the proposed budget 
must be sent by mail, or delivered in person, to the clerk of each municipality in the 
county. The municipal clerk shall notify the municipal officials of the receipt of the 
proposed budget and the date of the hearings. 
5. Adoption of final budget. After the public hearings are completed, the budget 
advisory committee may further increase, decrease or alter the proposed budget based on 
II 
information obtained during the public hearing process. The proposed budget must be 
approved by a majority vote of the budget advisory committee at a duly called meeting 
not later than December 15th 15 days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. The 
budget advisory committee shall send the approved budget to the county commissioners. 
The county commissioners may adopt the budget as submitted or after increasing, 
decreasing or altering the budget by a majority vote by December 31 st. 
6. Effect of adoption. Once the budget is finalized as provided in subsection 5, it is 
final and not subject to further action by the county commissioners or the budget advisory 
committee. 
7. Interim budget. Until a budget is finally approved, the county must be operated 
on an interim budget, which may not exceed the previous year's budget. 
Sec. 7. 30-A MRS A §751, sub-§l, ~A, as amended by PL 1991, c. 458, Pt. C, 
§4, is further amended to read: 
A. 
Budget committee members must be elected on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November the last month of the fiscal year in each even-numbered year 
beginning in 1994. Each term begins JaAHaJ)' 1 st on the first day of the fiscal year 
following the election. 
Sec. 8. 30-A MRSA §763, sub-§l, ~A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 440, § 1, is 
further amended to read: 
A. 
Before September 15th of every year No later than 75 days before the start of a 
fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notify all municipal officers in the county 
and the public to caucus by county commissioner districts at a specified date, time 
and place for the purpose of electing either one municipal officer or one 
representative of the public from each district as a member of the budget advisory 
committee. The county commissioner shall serve as nonvoting moderator for that 
district caucus. Nominations for either the municipal officer member or the public 
member must be received from the floor. The nominee for the category of member 
being chosen receiving the most votes is approved as a budget advisory committee 
member. The names of those elected by the caucus must be recorded and forwarded 
to the county commissioners. 
Sec. 9. 30-A MRSA §764, as amended by PL 1999, c. 83, § 1, is further amended 
to read: 
§764. Public hearing 
The Hancock County commIssIoners shall hold a public hearing on the budget 
estimate before October 1 st at least 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal year and 
an informational meeting on the advisory committee's budget estimates before December 
+st at least 30 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
Pursuant to the 
requirements of section 701, subsection 3, written notice and a copy of the estimates must 
be sent by mail or delivered in person to each member of the county legislative delegation 
at least 10 days before the informational meeting on the annual budget. 
Sec. 10. 30-A MRSA §76S, as amended by PL 1995, c. 147, § 1, IS further 
amended to read: 
§765. Budget estimate; submission to advisory committee 
The Hancock County commissioners shall submit a budget estimate to the budget 
advisory committee no later than October 1 st 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal 
year for the coming year. 
The budget advisory committee shall review the budget 
estimate and make recommendations to the commissioners before November 15th at least 
days before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
In order to deviate from any 
recommendation made by a recorded 2/3 majority vote of the full membership of the 
budget advisory committee, the county commissioners must unanimously approve that 
change. The county commissioners shall act on the budget no later than December 15th 
of the budget 15 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
Sec. 11. 30-A MRSA §793, sub-§I, ~A, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 718, is 
amended to read: 
A. 
Before September 15th of every year No later than 100 days before the end of 
the county's fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notify all municipal officers 
in the county to caucus by county commissioner districts at a specified date, time and 
place for the purpose of electing at least one municipal officer from each district as a 
member of the county budget committee except, in 1990, at least 3 municipal officers 
must be selected from each district. 
The county commissioner shall serve as 
nonvoting moderator for that district caucus. Nominations must be received from the 
floor. 
The nominee receiving the most votes is approved as a budget committee 
member except, in 1990, each caucus shall elect 3 members. The names of those 
elected by the caucus must be recorded and forwarded to the county commissioners. 
Sec. 12. 30-A MRSA §794, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 718, is amended to read: 
§794. Public hearing 
The Lincoln County commissioners shall hold one or more public hearings on the 
budget estimate before October 1 st no later than 90 days before the end of the county's 
fiscal year and an informational meeting, in conjunction with the advisory committee, 
with the Lincoln County legislative delegation before December 1 st no later than 30 days 
before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
Sec. 13. 30-A MRSA §79S, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 718, is amended to read: 
§795. Budget estimate; submission to advisory committee 
The Lincoln County commissioners shall submit a budget estimate to the advisory 
committee no later than Oetober 1 st 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal year for 
the coming year. The advisory committee shall review the budget estimate and make 
recommendations to the commissioners before November 15th no later than 45 days 
before the end of the county's fiscal year. The county commissioners shall act on the 
budget in a timely fashion and, in any event, not later than Deeember 15th of the budget 
days before the end ofthe county's fiscal year. 
Sec. 14. 30-A MRSA §825, as amended by PL 1995, c. 520, §§2 and 3, is further 
amended to read: 
§825. Budget procedures 
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. 
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 shall must be done 60 days before 
November 1 st the end of the county's fiscal year. 
4. Public hearing. The county commissioners shall hold a public hearing in the 
county on the proposed budget prior to Deeember 1 st 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 
shall 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 shall 
must be sent by mail or delivered in person to the clerk of each municipality in the county 
and to the members of the budget committee. 
The municipal clerk shall notify the 
municipal officials of the proposed budget and the date of the public hearing. 
5. 
Adoption of budget. 
After the public hearing is completed, the county 
commissioners may further increase, decrease, alter and revise the proposed itemized 
budgets provided that as long as: 
A. 
The county commissioners shall 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 
B. 
The county commissioners shall hold a public meeting prior to Deeember 7th at 
least 21 days before the end of the county's fiscal year with the budget committee to 
discuss any rejections. 
The proposed itemized budget must be finally adopted by a majority vote of the county 
commissioners at a duly called meeting not later than Deeember 15th 15 day-s before the 
end of the county's fiscal year. 
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. 
9. Interim budget. Until a budget is finally adopted, the county shall operate on an 
interim budget , .... hieh shall that may not exceed the previous year's budget. 
II 
10. Transfer of funds. The county commissioners may transfer funds as provided 
in section 922. 
Sec. 15. 30-A MRSA §832, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 623, § I, is amended to 
read: 
§832. Membership 
The budget committee consists of 15 voting members and one nonvoting member 
selected as follows. 
1. Municipal and public representatives. Prior to September 15th eaeh year No 
later than 100 days before the end of the county's fiscal year, elected municipal officials 
within each commissioner district shall caucus and elect representatives to the budget 
committee from that district for terms as provided in paragraph A. There must be 3 
members from each commissioner district, 2 of whom are elected municipal officials and 
one of whom is a public representative. No more than one member may represent the 
same municipality at a time. 
A. 
Members shall serve for 3-year terms, except that initially each district caucus 
shall select one member for a one-year term, one member for a 2-year term and one 
member for a 3-year term. If a committee member ceases to be a municipal officer or 
official during the term of membership, the committee member shall resign the 
membership and the next district caucus shall elect a qualified municipal officer or 
official to fill the membership for the remainder of the unexpired term. 
2. Legislative member. By September 15th eaeh year No later than 100 days before 
the end of the county's fiscal year, the York County legislative delegation shall elect one 
of the delegation's members to serve as a nonvoting member on the budget committee. 
3. Committee chair. The budget committee shall select its own chair each year. 
Sec. 16. 30-A MRSA §862, suh-§I, as amended by PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. B, §17 
and affected by § 18, is further amended to read: 
1. Municipal representatives. Prior to September 15th eaeh No later than 100 days 
before the end of the county's fiscal year, municipal officers within each commissioner 
district shall caucus and elect members from that district for terms as provided in 
paragraph A. There must be 3 members from each commissioner district, 2 of whom are 
municipal officers and one of whom may be a municipal official who is not a municipal 
officer as defined in section 2001. No more than one member may represent the same 
municipality at one time. 
A. 
Members serve for 3-year terms, except that initially each district caucus selects 
one member for a one-year term, one member for a 2-year term and one member for a 
3-year term. If a budget committee member ceases to be a municipal officer or 
official during the term of membership, that member shall resign the membership and 
the next district caucus shall elect a qualified municipal officer or official to fill the 
membership for the remainder of the unexpired term. 
Sec. 17. 30-A MRSA §883, sub-§2, ~A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 143, § 1 and 
affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
A. 
Before febrl:lary 15th of every No later than 135 days before the end of the 
county's fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notify all municipal officers in 
the county to caucus by county commissioner districts at a specified date, time and 
place for the purpose of electing the membership of the county budget advisory 
committee. Whenever a public member of the budget advisory committee will be 
elected, the county commissioners must issue a public notice of that fact that includes 
the date, time and place of the caucus. The county commissioner shall serve as 
nonvoting moderator for that commissioner's district caucus. Nominations must be 
received from the floor. The nominee receiving the most votes is approved as a 
budget advisory committee member and serves a term of 3 years, except as provided 
in paragraph B. 
Sec. 18. 30-A MRSA §884, as amended by PL 2001, c. 143, §2 and affected by 
§4, is further amended to read: 
§884. Budget estimate; submission to advisory committee 
The Sagadahoc County commissioners shall submit a budget estimate to the advisory 
committee no later than April 1 st 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal year for the 
coming fiscal year. The advisory committee shall review the budget estimate, hold a 
public hearing on the budget estimate and make recommendations to the commissioners 
before May 15th no later than 45 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. The 
county commissioners shall act on the budget in a timely fashion and, in any event, not 
later than Jl:lne 15th 15 days prior to the beginning of the budget year. 
Sec. 19. 30-A MRSA §892, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 204, §2, IS 
amended to read: 
1. Appointment. Each county commissioner shall appoint a municipal officer from 
the commissioner's respective county commissioner district prior to September 15th of 
every at least 75 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
Sec. 20. 30-A MRS A §892, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 31, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
2. Municipal officer elections. Before September 15th of every No later than 100 
days before the end of the county's fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notifY all 
municipal officers to caucus by county commissioner district at a specified date, time and 
place for the purpose of electing 2 municipal officers from each district as members of 
the county budget advisory committee. 
The county commissioner shall serve as 
nonvoting moderator for that district caucus. Nominations must be received from the 
floor. 
The 2 nominees receiving the most votes are the budget advisory committee 
members. The names of those elected by the caucus must be recorded and forwarded to 
the county commissioners. 
When the district meeting fails to produce 2 budget 
committee member nominees, the county commissioner of the district may appoint a 
municipal officer from that district to each vacant seat within 10 days of the district 
caucus. The county commissioner shall include notice of this appointment provision in 
the original notice to convene the caucus if the commissioner plans to exercise the 
appointment authority granted in this subsection. A municipality may not at any time 
have more than one representative serving on the budget advisory committee. 
Sec. 21. 30-A MRSA §893, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 204, §2, IS 
amended to read: 
1. Public hearing. The Oxford County commissioners shall hold one or more public 
hearings on the budget estimate at times convenient for the residents of the county and 
before November 15t of each no later than 60 days before the end of the county's fiscal 
year. 
Sec. 22. 30-A MRSA §893, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 29, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
2. 
Budget estimate; submission to budget advisory committee. The Oxford 
County commissioners shall submit a budget estimate for the coming year to the budget 
advisory committee no later than November 15t of each 60 days before the end of the 
county's fiscal year. The budget advisory committee shall review the budget estimate and 
prepare the budget. The budget must be presented to the county commissioners befure 
December 15t of each no later than 30 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. The 
county commissioners shall act on the budget in a timely fashion, not later than the 3rd 
I 
Tuesday in December the last month of the fiscal year preceding the budget year. If the 
adopted budget is changed by the county commissioners, the budget advisory committee 
may reject that change by a 2/3 vote of its membership. Those actions are final and not 
subject to further action by either the county commissioners or the budget advisory 
committee. 
Sec. 23. 30-A MRSA §896, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1999, c. 49, § 1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Municipal representatives. Prior to September 15th each No later than 100 days 
before the end of the county's fiscal year, municipal officers within each commissioner 
district shall caucus and elect members from that district for terms as provided in 
paragraph A. There must be 3 members from each commissioner district, 2 of whom are 
municipal officers and one of whom is a municipal official who is not a municipal officer 
as defined in section 2001. 
No more than one member may represent the same 
municipality at one time. 
A. 
Members serve for 3-year terms, except that initially each district caucus selects 
one member for a one-year term, one member for a 2-year term and one member for a 
3-year term. If a budget committee member ceases to be a municipal officer or 
official during the term of membership, that member shall resign the membership and 
the next district caucus shall elect a qualified municipal officer or official to fill the 
membership for the remainder of the unexpired term. 
Sec. 24. 30-A MRSA §900-B, sub-§l, ~A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 279, §2, 
lOis further amended to read: 
A. 
Before Septemeer 15tH of every No later than 100 days before the end of the 
county's fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notify all municipal officers in 
the county to caucus by county commissioner districts at a specified date, time and 
place for the purpose of electing at least one municipal officer from each district as a 
member of the budget advisory committee; except that, in 1992, at least 3 municipal 
officers must be selected from each district unless the municipal officers of a district 
decide that another person from that district would be better qualified. 
A 
municipality may not be represented by more than one officer at a time. The county 
commissioner shall serve as nonvoting moderator for that district caucus. 
Nominations must be received from the floor. The nominee receiving the most votes 
is approved as a budget advisory committee member except that, in 1992, each 
caucus shall elect 3 members. The names of those elected by the caucus must be 
recorded and forwarded to the county commissioners. 
Sec. 25. 30-A MRS A §900-Bl, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 279, §3, is amended to 
read: 
§900-Bl. Prior year's budget available 
Anmlally by September 15tH No later than 100 days before the end of the county's 
fiscal year, the county commissioners shall publish, deliver to the budget advisory 
committee and make available to the public copies of a financial statement for the 
preceding county fiscal year showing funds authorized, including but not limited to 
I 
revenues, unappropriated fund balances and reserve accounts, and expenditures made for 
each department, account and program and showing the balance in each account at the 
end of the fiscal year. 
Sec. 26. 30-A MRSA §900-C, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 777, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§900-C. Public hearing 
The Washington County commissioners shall hold one or more public hearings on 
the budget estimate before Oetober 1 st no later than 90 days before the end of the 
county's fiscal year and an informational meeting, in conjunction with the budget 
advisory committee, with the Washington County legislative delegation before Deeember 
+st no later than 30 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. 
I 
Sec. 27. 30-A MRS A §900-D, as amended by PL 1997, c. 279, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
§900-D. Budget estimate; submission to advisory committee; legislative delegation 
role 
The Washington County commissioners shall submit a budget estimate to the budget 
advisory committee no later than October 1 st 90 days before the end of the county's fiscal 
year for the coming year. 
The budget advisory committee shall review the budget 
estimate and make recommendations to the commissioners before November 15th no 
later than 45 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. The county commissioners 
shall act on the budget in a timely fashion and, in any event, not later than December 15th 
II 
of the bl:ldget 15 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. If county commissioners 
wish to make changes in the budget recommended by the budget advisory committee, the 
county commissioners shall schedule one or more meetings with the budget advisory 
committee before December 15th no later than 15 days before the end of the county's 
fiscal year for the purpose of negotiating a final budget. 
If, following negotiations, a final budget that is acceptable to the budget advisory 
committee is not approved by the county commissioners b~' December 15th at least 15 
days before the end of the county's fiscal year, the budget advisory committee shall adopt 
a final budget and transmit that budget to the county commissioners. The budget adopted 
by the budget advisory committee may be changed by a majority vote of the board of 
county commissioners. If the adopted budget is changed by the county commissioners, 
the budget advisory committee may reject that change by a 2/3 vote of its membership. 
The budget is final and not subject to further action by either the county commissioners 
or the budget advisory committee upon failure of the commissioners to recommend 
changes in the budget transmitted from the budget advisory committee or upon 
acceptance or rejection of changes by the budget advisory committee. The entire budget 
approval process must be completed by December 31 st the last day of the county's fiscal 
year. 
Sec. 28. 30-A MRS A §900-M, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 124, §1, is 
amended to read: 
2. Municipal official elections. Before October 15th of every No later than 75 days 
before the end of the county's fiscal year, the county commissioners shall notify all 
municipal officials to caucus by county commissioner district at a specified date, time and 
place for the purpose of electing one municipal official from each district as a member of 
the budget committee. Each county commissioner shall serve as nonvoting moderator for 
that district caucus. 
Nominations must be received from the floor. 
The nominee 
receiving the most votes is the budget committee member. The name of the member 
elected by the caucus must be recorded and forwarded to the county commissioners. 
Sec. 29. 30-A MRSA §900-N, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 124, §I, is 
amended to read: 
1. 
Public hearing. The county commiSSIOners shall hold one or more public 
hearings on the budget at times convenient for the residents of the county and befere 
Deeember 16th of eaeh no later than 15 days before the end of the county's fiscalyear. 
Sec. 30. 30-A MRSA §900-N, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 124, §1, is 
amended to read: 
2. 
Budget; submission to budget committee. 
The Penobscot County 
commissioners shall submit a budget for the coming year to the budget committee no 
later than November 10th ofeaeh 45 days before the end of the county's fiscal year. The 
budget committee shall review the budget with the county commissioners prior to 
1'lovember 30th no later than 30 days before the end of the county's fiscal year and make 
additions or deletions to the budget by a majority vote of the budget committee. A 
unanimous vote of the county commissioners is required to override the budget 
committee. 
SUMMARY 
Current law permits county commiSSIOners to change their county's fiscal year. 
However, the laws governing some counties' budget procedures specify certain dates by 
which steps in the budgeting process must be completed, and those dates need to be 
changed in order for the commissioners to change their county's fiscal year. This bill 
replaces specific dates with a specified number of days prior to the end of the county 
fiscal year, but does not mandate a change in the county fiscal year. 
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