reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 33b - Transfer of Appropriations; Restrictions

Section 33B. (a) On recommendation of the mayor, the city council may, by majority vote, transfer any amount appropriated for the use of any department to another appropriation for the same department. In addition, the city council may, by majority vote, on recommendation of the mayor, transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year, to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated, other than for the use of a municipal light department or a school department, to any other appropriation. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no transfer shall be made of any amount appropriated for the use of any city department to the appropriation for any other department except by a 2/3 vote of the city council on recommendation of the mayor and with the written approval of the amount of the transfer by the department having control of the appropriation from which the transfer is proposed to be made. No transfer involving a municipal light department or a school department shall be made under the previous sentence without the approval of the amount of the transfer by a vote of the municipal light department board or by a vote of the school committee, respectively.
(b) A town may, by majority vote at any meeting duly held, transfer any amount previously appropriated to any other use authorized by law. Alternatively, the selectmen, with the concurrence of the finance committee or other entity established under section 16 of chapter 39, may transfer within the last 2 months of any fiscal year, or during the first 15 days of the new fiscal year to apply to the previous fiscal year, any amount appropriated, other than for the use of a municipal light department or a school department, to any other appropriation.
(c) No approval other than that expressly provided in this section shall be required for any transfer under this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 35 - Audits of Accounts; When Conducted; Governmental Units to Be Considered Districts; Copy to Be Sent to Chief Executive Officer; Costs

Section 35. Cities, towns, districts, and regional school districts shall conduct periodic audits of their accounts, according to any standards established by the director under section 38, and shall engage for that purpose a professional auditing firm or other independent accountant as may be necessary or appropriate. The chief executive officer of a city or town, the prudential committee, if any, otherwise the commissioners, of a district, or the regional district school committee may also cause an audit to be performed when, in their opinion, the condition of the accounts is such as to warrant the making of such audit necessary and useful.
Notwithstanding any general or special law that provides for the director to cause an annual or other periodic audit of a regional or other governmental unit created within 1 or more cities or towns of the commonwealth to provide public services or conveniences, such governmental unit shall be considered a district for purposes of conducting a periodic audit under this section and sections 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42. Upon the completion of each audit, a copy shall be sent to the chief executive officer of each city or town which is a member of the governmental unit. The cost of each audit shall be a current expense of the governmental unit and shall be apportioned among the several cities and towns that are members of the unit in the same manner as other such expenses.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 38 - Uniformity of Accounting Classifications; Standards; Authority of Director

Section 38. The director shall make, and from time to time revise, such reasonable rules, regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to establish minimum standards and methods of municipal and district accounting systems as the director determines are most effective in securing uniformity of classification in the accounts of cities, towns, and districts. Such accounting classifications, so far as they pertain to municipal or regional school committees, shall be subject to the advice and approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The specific areas to which such standards may relate shall include, but are not limited to, the following: the administration of all laws regarding city, town or district revenues, expenditures and debt, including the maximum useful life of projects, improvements or assets being financed with debt; the systematic accounting of financial transactions; the adequacy of financial records; and the frequency and content of audits.
The director may, upon request or the director's own initiative, give an opinion to a city, town or district auditor, accountant or other officer having similar duties, collector, treasurer or other board or other officer, upon any question arising under any statute relating to accounting for revenues and expenditures and issuance of debt. The director may visit any city, town or district, inspect the work of its auditor, accountant or other officer having similar duties, collector, treasurer, or other officer having charge of any financial accounts or records; and require of them any information considered necessary regarding the procedures used in keeping the accounts or records, including access to all necessary papers, vouchers, books, records, and data. The director may require of city, town, or district officials such action as will tend to produce uniformity of accounting systems and standards through the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 39 - Results of Audit; Report to Municipality

Section 39. Upon the completion of an audit under section 35, the firm or person selected by the city, town or district to conduct said audit shall render a report to the chief executive officer of the city or town, or other board or officer required by charter, or the prudential committee or commissioners of the district, embodying the results of the findings, with any suggestions considered advisable for the proper administration of the finances of the city, town, or district. A copy of the audit report shall be furnished to the director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 40 - Audit of Accounts; Frequency; Reports

Section 40. For the purpose of conducting audits of the accounts of all cities and towns annually, and of the accounts of each district and regional school district biennially or annually as determined by the prudential committee, if any, otherwise the commissioners, or the regional district school committee, the firm or person engaged to conduct such audits shall have access to all necessary papers, books, and records. All accounts subject to audit by town auditors under section 53 of chapter 41 shall be subject to audit, and the trustees of any property the principal or income of which, in whole or in part, was bequeathed or given in trust for public uses for the benefit of the city or town or any part thereof, or for the benefit of the inhabitants of the city or town or any part thereof, shall give said firm or person access to their accounts, funds, securities and evidences of property for the purposes of the audit. Upon the completion of each audit as aforesaid, a report thereunder shall be made to the mayor and city council in cities, the selectmen in towns, the prudential committee and commissioners in a district, and the regional district school committee in a regional school district, and a copy of the same shall be furnished to the city, town or district clerk, who shall cause the same or a summary of its essential features to be published at the expense of the city, town or district. A copy of the audit report shall be furnished to the director of accounts. If embezzlement or other criminal activity is suspected as a result of audit findings, the foregoing city, town, or district officials shall bring the relevant information to the attention of the district attorneys and attorney general and give assistance to any investigation instituted in response.
Commencing with the fiscal year 1987, regional school districts may satisfy the requirements of the Single Audit Act of 1984, 31 USC Sec. 7502, by causing audits of its records to be made annually or biennially by an independent auditor to be selected by such regional school districts to conduct such audits. Such audits shall be made in accordance with federal government auditing standards.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 41 - Failure to Meet Minimum Standards and Methods of Accounting; Expenses of Auditing; Payment

Section 41. Whenever it appears to the director that a city, town or district has failed to meet the minimum standards and methods of municipal and district accounting prescribed under section 38, or to provide the information required under section 43 or other statute, the director shall notify the city, town or district of the actions necessary to ensure compliance or to provide the required information. The notice shall contain a statement that failure to comply may result in the director taking action to ensure compliance, including contracting for any services necessary or appropriate to do so. If such city or town fails, within a reasonable time, to comply with the requirements of the director, and continues to fail to comply, the director may contract on behalf of the city or town for any professional or technical services necessary to meet the standards or obtain the necessary information. The costs of the services shall be incurred by the commonwealth, and payment shall be deducted by the state treasurer, pursuant to section 20A of chapter 58, from any amount distributable or payable by the commonwealth to such city or town.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 42 - Audits by Private Accountants; Required Reports

Section 42. Whenever a city, town or district causes an audit of its accounts or the accounts of separate departments to be made by a firm or person of its own selection, the city, town or district clerk shall immediately, upon the employment of such firm or person, file the name and address with the director, and such firm or person shall, within 10 days after making the report of the audit and recommendations to the city, town or district, file a certified copy thereof with the director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 42a - Pilot Program for Audits of Public Functions of City, Town, County, Etc. Where Irregularities or Illegal Acts Are Suspected; Establishment

Section 42A. The department of the state auditor, in accordance with section 12 of chapter 11, shall establish a 2 year pilot program for the audit of the accounts, programs, activities, and other public functions of a particular city, town, county, district, or regional school district where there are suspected irregularities or illegal acts. Any audit undertaken under this section shall include an audit of any accounts, programs, activities and functions of a city, town, county, district or regional school district for the purpose of identifying any irregularities or illegal acts by a department, office or agency of the respective city, town, county, district or regional school district. On or before April 1 of each year, the department of the state auditor shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of audits performed under this section; (ii) a summary of findings under the audits; and (iii) the cost of each audit. Nothing in this section shall require the department of the state auditor to perform an audit of a city, town, county, district or regional school district.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 43 - Accounting Reports; Returns; Forms

Section 43. The director shall annually require the auditor or other accounting officer of each city and town to submit schedules to provide for uniform returns giving detailed statements of all receipts classified by sources, and all payments classified by objects, for its last fiscal year; a statement of the public debt showing the purpose for which each item of the debt was created and the provision made for the payment thereof; and a statement of assets and liabilities at the close of the fiscal year. The director may prescribe standard forms intended to promote the systematic accounting of financial transactions and the publication of the same in the city and town reports. The director shall collect from the proper local authorities such other information pertaining to municipal affairs as in the director's judgment may be of public interest. All auditors, accounting officers and other officials and custodians of public money of cities and towns shall properly complete and promptly return all schedules required of them to the director. If a city or town fails, within 60 days after a request has been made by the director, to furnish the information to be collected under this section, the director may obtain the information in accordance with section 41.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 44 - Reports of Municipal Statistics; Publication

Section 44. The commissioner of revenue may obtain and compile statistics about the financial affairs of cities and towns and other information of public interest pertaining to municipal affairs. Such statistics and other information the commissioner deems relevant may be published and distributed through such means and methods as the commissioner shall choose. The commissioner may also publish, at such intervals as is considered advisable, the director's bulletins or special reports on municipal affairs.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 46a - Powers of Director; Investigation of Municipal Affairs

Section 46A. The director may, if conditions appear to the director to warrant it, review the accounts and financial transactions and affairs of a city or town, or of any department, board, commission or officer thereof. For the purpose of conducting the review, the director may visit any city, town, or district office and require any information the director considers necessary. Upon the completion of any review, the director may publish a summary of its essential features. A municipal officer or employee, or a member of a municipal department, board or commission whose accounts or transactions are being reviewed under this section, shall afford to the director such assistance as the director may require. Refusal or neglect by such an officer, employee or member to afford such assistance shall be punished by a fine of not more than 500 dollars or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 47 - Right to Establish or Use

Section 47. No further sinking funds for the payment of debt shall be established by any city, town or district, but cities and towns shall contribute to every sinking fund established prior to May twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred and thirteen, and districts shall contribute to every sinking fund established prior to March twentieth, nineteen hundred and fifteen, until such sinking fund, with its accumulations, shall be sufficient to extinguish at maturity the debt for which it was established. This section shall not apply to Boston.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 48 - Sinking Fund Commissioners; Powers and Duties; Records; Compensation

Section 48. The sinking fund commissioners shall have charge of all sinking funds intrusted to them by the city, town or district, and shall invest and reinvest, in the name of the board, all amounts contributed thereto and the income thereof as it accrues, in the particular bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness for the redemption of which such sinking fund was established, or in other bonds of their city, town or district secured by sinking funds, or in temporary loan notes or certificates of their city, town or district issued in anticipation of taxes, or in securities, except personal securities, in which funds of savings banks may by law be invested; but no part thereof shall be loaned to the city or town except as herein provided. The commissioners may sell such securities and reinvest the proceeds. They shall keep a record of their proceedings, and shall annually make a written report to the city, town or district of the amount and condition of said funds and of the income thereof for the preceding financial year. Their records and the securities belonging to said funds shall at all times be subject to the inspection of the mayor, aldermen, selectmen, or any committee or commissioners of the city, town or district authorized for the purpose. No member of the board shall receive compensation for his services; but the necessary expenses of the board shall be paid by the city, town or district, and the treasurer and secretary thereof shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the city, town or district.
When securities for the redemption of which a sinking fund has been established become a part of said sinking fund, the commissioners shall cause a notice to be stamped or written on the face thereof that they are a part of such sinking fund, and are not negotiable; and all coupons thereof, as they are paid, shall be cancelled.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 49 - Issuance of New Bonds

Section 49. If, when bonds payable from the sinking fund become due, the sinking fund commissioners of a city hold any other bonds of the city not due and payable, which have been stamped as the property of said sinking fund and are not negotiable, they shall so certify to the mayor and request that new bonds be issued to them by the city in lieu of the bonds not due. If the mayor is satisfied that there is occasion therefor, he shall cause new bonds to be prepared, bearing the same rate of interest, and payable as to principal and interest on the same dates as the bonds to be surrendered, and identical in terms therewith; and when executed by him and the city treasurer and approved by the committee on finance of the city council, they shall be issued to such commissioners on the surrender by them to the city treasurer and the cancellation of such former bonds. Such cancellation and new issue shall be entered in full on the books of the city treasurer.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 52 - Issuance of Bonds in Exchange for Bearer Instruments

Section 52. A county, city, town or district, or any domestic corporation, which shall have issued any bond, note or certificate of indebtedness payable to bearer, held by the sinking fund commissioners of any city, town or district, shall, at the request of such commissioners, issue in exchange therefor a bond, note or certificate of the same effect, payable to such commissioners by name; provided, that the city, town or district desiring such exchange shall, if requested, furnish the blank form for the bond, note or certificate therefor in the same general form as that furnished by the commonwealth under section thirty-nine of chapter twenty-nine.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53 - City, Town or District Funds; Use and Disposition

Section 53. All moneys received by any city, town or district officer or department, except as otherwise provided by special acts and except fees provided for by statute, shall be paid by such officers or department upon their receipt into the city, town or district treasury. Any sums so paid into the city, town or district treasury shall not later be used by such officer or department without specific appropriation thereof; provided, however, that (1) sums allotted by the commonwealth or a county to cities or towns for highway purposes and sums allotted by the commonwealth to cities, towns or districts for water pollution control purposes shall be available therefor without specific appropriation, but shall be used only for the purposes for which the allotment is made or to meet temporary loans issued in anticipation of such allotment as provided in section six or six A, (2) sums not in excess of $150,000 recovered under the terms of a fire or physical damage insurance policy or received in restitution for damage done to such city, town or district property may, with the approval of the chief executive officer, be used by the officer or department having control of the city, town or district property for the restoration or replacement of such property without specific appropriation during the fiscal year in which they are received or 120 days after receipt, whichever is later, and (3) sums recovered from pupils in the public schools for loss of or damage to school books, materials, electronic devices or other learning aids provided by the school committee, or paid by pupils for materials used in the industrial arts projects, may be used by the school committee for the restoration or replacement of such books or materials without specific appropriation.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53a1/2 - Gifts of Tangible Personal Property; Acceptance

Section 53A1/2. A city council, with the mayor's approval if the charter so provides, or a board of selectmen, or prudential committee or town council may, in its sole discretion and authority, accept gifts of tangible personal property on behalf of the city, town or district from the federal government, a charitable foundation, private corporation, individual, or from the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, and may, in its sole discretion and authority, use said gifts, without specific appropriation thereof, for the purpose of such a gift or, if no restrictions are attached to the gift, for such other purposes as it deems advisable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53b - Contributions by Commonwealth; Application to Indebtedness

Section 53B. Any sums allotted and paid by the commonwealth to a city, town or district as a contribution towards the cost of a useful public works project, the state's share of the cost of which project was financed from the proceeds of a loan issued by such city, town or district, shall be applied towards the payment of such indebtedness.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53c - Deposit and Expenditure of Compensation for Off-Duty or Special Detail Work; Appropriation for Special Fund; Fee

Section 53C. All money received by a city, town or district as compensation for work performed by one of its employees on an off-duty work detail which is related to such employee's regular employment or for special detail work performed by persons where such detail is not related to regular employment shall be deposited in the treasury and shall be kept in a fund separate from all other monies of such city, town or district and, notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-three, shall be expended without further appropriation in such manner and at such times as shall, in the discretion of the authority authorizing such off-duty work detail or special detail work, compensate the employee or person for such services; provided, however, that such compensation shall be paid to such employee or person no later than ten working days after receipt by the city, town or district of payment for such services.
When necessary, a city, town or district may appropriate funds to be placed in the special fund authorized by this section to be used for the purpose for which the fund was established. A city, town or district may establish a fee not to exceed ten per cent of the cost of services authorized under this section, which shall, except in the case of a city, town, district or the commonwealth, be paid by the persons requesting such private detail. Any such fee received shall be credited as general funds of the city, town or district and shall not be used again without further appropriation.
Districts shall include regional school districts.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53d - Recreation and Park Self-Supporting Service Revolving Funds; Creation; Authorized Use of Funds; Annual Report; Revocation of Provisions

Section 53D. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-three, any city or town which accepts the provisions of this section may establish in the city or town treasury a revolving fund which shall be kept separate and apart from all other monies by the treasurer and in which shall be deposited the receipts received in connection with the conduct of self-supporting recreation and park services of said city or town. The principal and interest thereon shall be expended at the direction of the authority, commission, board or official of such city or town with said responsibility without further appropriation, but only with the written approval of the mayor in cities, or city manager in Plan E cities, or the selectmen in towns, or in towns which have adopted the town manager form of government the town manager and only for the purpose of operating self-supporting recreation and park services. The city auditor or town accountant shall submit annually a report of said revolving fund to the mayor, city council, city manager, board of selectmen or town manager for their review and a copy of said report shall be submitted to the director of the bureau of accounts; provided, however, that funds in said revolving fund shall not be used for the purpose of paying any wages or salaries for full-time, as defined in the guidelines issued by the director of accounts, recreation and park employees; provided, further, that the unreserved fund balance shall not exceed ten thousand dollars at the close of each fiscal year and any such amount in excess of ten thousand dollars shall be paid into the city or town treasury as provided in section fifty-three.
A city or town which has accepted the provisions of this section may, in like manner, revoke its acceptance; provided, however, that any city or town may require by by-law or ordinance, that the provisions of this section may be subject to annual authorization by a vote of the annual town meeting or city council.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53e - Agencies, Boards, etc.; Annual Operating Costs; Offset by Estimated Receipts of User Fees

Section 53E. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-three, a city or town which accepts the provisions of this section may specify when making an appropriation for the annual ordinary operating costs of any agency, board, department or office of said city or town that such costs may be offset, in part or in the aggregate, by the estimated receipts from the fees charged to users of the services provided by such agency, board, department or office.
The use of such fees shall be limited to an amount not to exceed the actual amounts received during the previous fiscal year or such other estimated amount as may be approved, in advance of appropriation, by the commissioner of revenue or his designee, and which is based upon adequate documented material supporting such estimated amounts.
Receipts so allocated shall be deposited in a special account by the city or town treasurer or otherwise specifically identified and may be expended for the purpose allocated without further appropriation. Any balance in such accounts at the end of the fiscal year shall be deposited into the general treasury of the city or town.
Any deficit resulting from any city or town acting under the provisions of this section shall be reported by the auditor, accountant or other officer having similar duties, or by the treasurer if there be no such officer, to the assessors, who shall include the amount so reported in the aggregate appropriations to be assessed in the next subsequent annual tax levy, unless the city or town has provided funds to eliminate such deficit. Any deficit so incurred must be raised by taxation and shall be subject to all applicable provisions of chapter fifty-nine.
Each agency, board, department or office shall prepare an annual report of the change in cash balances in such entity which shall detail the cash receipts and disbursements for the year and shall be submitted to the mayor, city council, city manager, board of selectmen or town manager for their review and a copy of said report shall be submitted to the director of the bureau of accounts. Such report shall be prepared and submitted within forty-five days after the close of the fiscal year.
All such sums, so allocated, shall be treated as amounts voted from available funds for the purpose of deduction in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-three of chapter fifty-nine. All amounts voted from available funds shall be itemized in a schedule, on a form approved by the commissioner of revenue, prepared by the city or town clerk and included with the submission for approval of the tax rate by the commissioner of revenue as provided in section twenty-three of chapter fifty-nine. The assessors shall further attest, on said schedule, that the receipts itemized therein have not been included in any other deduction from the gross amounts to be raised.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53f - Deposits of Public Funds in Banking Institutions in Return for Banking Services

Section 53F. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a treasurer or collector of a city, town or district is authorized to enter into written agreements for a period not to exceed three years, with banking institutions having their principal offices in the commonwealth, pursuant to which such treasurer or collector agrees to maintain on deposit in said institutions specified amounts of the funds of the municipality in return for said institutions providing banking services.
Such agreements shall contain such terms and conditions as the treasurer or collector may deem appropriate to ensure fiscal stability and full disclosure. Each such agreement shall include the total amount that may be required to be on deposit at all times; and, if said amount may vary from time to time, every such agreement shall specify a minimum total amount that may be required to be on deposit at any time. If the city, town or district fails to maintain the agreed amount on deposit, the city, town or district shall not be authorized to appropriate funds for such purpose.
No such agreement shall be effective unless and until it has been approved in a town having a town council, by the town council; in a city by the city council and the mayor if required by law; in a regional school district, by the regional school committee; and in any other district, by the district meeting. With respect to any other town, no such agreement shall be effective unless and until the town meeting has authorized its treasurer or collector to enter into such agreements under the provisions of this section during the fiscal year in which such agreement takes effect and such agreement has been approved by the selectmen of such town.
As used in this section, ''district'' shall include a regional school district.
A treasurer or collector who has entered into an agreement pursuant to this section shall produce an annual report in order to determine whether funds maintained on deposit with a banking institution have exceeded the amount required by said agreement. Such report shall identify each banking institution with which such agreement was maintained in the year covered by the report, and the average daily amount, if any, maintained on deposit with such banking institution in excess of the amount necessary to fulfill the terms of agreement. A copy of such report shall be provided to the collector or treasurer, the mayor and city council, the selectmen, the regional school committee, the prudential committee, if any, otherwise the commissioners, of the city, town, or district, and a copy of the same shall be furnished to the inspector general.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53f3/4 - Peg Access and Cable Related Fund

Section 53F3/4. Notwithstanding section 53 or any other general or special law to the contrary, a municipality that accepts this section may establish in the treasury a separate revenue account to be known as the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund, into which may be deposited funds received in connection with a franchise agreement between a cable operator and the municipality. Monies in the fund shall only be appropriated for cable-related purposes consistent with the franchise agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) support of public, educational or governmental access cable television services; (ii) monitor compliance of the cable operator with the franchise agreement; or (iii) prepare for renewal of the franchise license.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53g - Employment of Outside Consultants

Section 53G. Notwithstanding section 53, any city or town that provides by rules promulgated under section 9 or 12 of chapter 40A, section 21 of chapter 40B, section 81Q of chapter 41 or section 31 of chapter 111, or by rules promulgated by a conservation commission established by a city or town under section 8C of chapter 40 when implementing the authority conferred under said section 8C of said chapter 40, section 40 of chapter 131, or under any local wetlands ordinance or by-law, or by rules promulgated by any municipal permit or license granting officer or board when implementing authority conferred under any statute, ordinance or by-law, for the imposition of reasonable fees for the employment of outside consultants may deposit such fees in a special account. Such rules shall provide for an administrative appeal from the selection of the outside consultant to the city council or town board of selectmen. The grounds for such an appeal shall be limited to claims that the consultant selected has a conflict of interest or does not possess the minimum, required qualifications. The minimum qualifications shall consist either of an educational degree in or related to the field at issue or three or more years of practice in the field at issue or a related field. The required time limits for action upon an application by a municipal permit granting board shall be extended by the duration of the administrative appeal. In the event that no decision is made by the city council or the town board of selectmen within one month following the filing of the appeal, the selection made by the municipal permit granting authority shall stand. Such an administrative appeal shall not preclude further judicial review, if otherwise permitted by law, on the grounds provided for in this section. Any such account shall be established by the municipal treasurer in the municipal treasury and shall be kept separate and apart from other monies. The special account, including accrued interest, if any, shall be expended at the direction of the authorized board or authority without further appropriation; provided, however, that such funds are to be expended by it only in connection with carrying out its responsibilities under the law. Any excess amount in the account attributable to a specific project, including any accrued interest, at the completion of said project shall be repaid to the applicant or to the applicant's successor in interest and a final report of said account shall be made available to the applicant or to the applicant's successor in interest. The municipal accountant shall submit annually a report of said special account to the chief elected body and chief administrative official of the municipality for their review. Said report shall be published in the city or town annual report. The municipal accountant shall submit annually a copy of said report to the director of the bureau of accounts.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53g1/2 - Special Account for Deposits to Secure the Performance of an Obligation by an Applicant for a License or Permit

Section 53G1/2. Notwithstanding section 53, in a city or town that provides by by-law, ordinance, rule, regulation or contract for the deposit of cash, bonds, negotiable securities, sureties or other financial guarantees to secure the performance of any obligation by an applicant as a condition of a license, permit or other approval or authorization, the monies or other security received may be deposited in a special account. Such by-law, ordinance, rule or regulation shall specify: (1) the type of financial guarantees required; (2) the treatment of investment earnings, if any; (3) the performance required and standards for determining satisfactory completion or default; (4) the procedures the applicant must follow to obtain a return of the monies or other security; (5) the use of monies in the account upon default; and (6) any other conditions or rules as the city or town determines are reasonable to ensure compliance with the obligations. Any such account shall be established by the municipal treasurer in the municipal treasury and shall be kept separate and apart from other monies. Monies in the special account may be expended by the authorized board, commission, department or officer, without further appropriation, to complete the work or perform the obligations, as provided in the by-law, ordinance, rule or regulation. This section shall not apply to deposits or other financial surety received under section 81U of chapter 41 or other general or special law.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53h - Rebate to Federal Government to Exclude Interest Paid on Bonds From Gross Income

Section 53H. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-three, any city, town, district, regional refuse disposal district or regional school district issuing bonds or notes may rebate to the federal government, without further appropriation, any amount deemed necessary by the officers authorized to issue the bonds or notes in order to have interest paid on the bonds or notes be excluded, in whole or in part, from gross income for federal income tax purposes. Such payment made by a city, town or district shall be reported by the auditor or accountant of the city or town or other officer having similar duties or by the treasurer, if there is no such officer, to the assessors, who shall include the amount so reported in the determination of the next annual tax rate, unless the city, town or district has otherwise made provisions therefor. The amount of such payment made by a regional school district or regional refuse disposal district shall be included in the next annual district operation and maintenance budget, unless the regional district committee has otherwise made provisions therefor. The director of accounts may promulgate guidelines, rules and regulations to govern such rebates and any such rebates made under authority of this section shall be subject to any such guidelines, rules and regulations of said director.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53i - Settlement or Incorporation Celebrations; Special Fund

Section 53I. A city or town, for the celebration of the two hundredth, two hundred and fiftieth, three hundredth and three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its settlement or incorporation, and for the celebration of any semicentennial anniversary occurring thereafter, or for other special celebrations or events sponsored by the city or town for the benefit, enjoyment and edification of its residents and visitors, may appropriate money annually during the 5 years preceding such anniversary or special event. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 53 or any other general or special law to the contrary, such city or town may establish in its treasury a special fund in which shall be deposited such sums as may be appropriated by it under this section, and any and all sums received from the sale of commemorative items, admission charges or other monies received in connection with the anniversary or special event. Any and all such sums received by the treasurer shall be kept separate from other moneys, funds or property of such city or town and the principal and interest thereof may, from time to time upon the authorization of the mayor or city manager, as the case may be, the board of selectmen or the majority of any special committee established to plan such celebration or special event, be expended for the purposes of said celebration or special event in the year of such celebration or special event and in the year preceding or succeeding the same. Any surplus remaining in said special fund after such celebration or special event is concluded, shall be transferred by such treasurer into the treasury of such city or town.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 53j - Reservation of Revenues From Betterments or Special Assessments to Repay Debt Issued in Connection to Such Improvements

Section 53J. Notwithstanding sections 53 and 53F1/2, in any city, town or district that borrows money to pay for improvements for which betterments or special assessments are assessed, revenues from such betterments and assessments, including interest charged thereon, shall be reserved for appropriation for the payment of debt issued in connection with such improvements. Any such revenues received by the treasurer shall be kept separate from all other monies of such city, town or district. Interest earned on the revenues shall remain with and become part of such revenues available for appropriation. No appropriations from the revenues for payments of principal and interest on such debt issue for any fiscal year shall exceed the same percentage of the principal and interest payment due in such year as the percentage of project costs for which the betterments or special assessments are assessed. Any surplus remaining after such debt is repaid shall belong to any enterprise fund established under section 53F1/2 that the improvement for which the betterments or special assessments are assessed is part of, or, if no such enterprise fund is established, to the general fund of such city, town or district.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 55a - Liability of Depositor for Losses Due to Bankruptcy

Section 55A. A city, town, district or regional school district officer receiving public money and lawfully and in good faith and in the exercise of due care depositing the public money in a trust company, co-operative bank or savings bank, if the trust company or bank is organized or exists under the laws of the commonwealth or any other state or may transact business in the commonwealth and has its main office or a branch office in the commonwealth, a national bank, federal savings bank or federal savings and loan association, if the bank or association may transact business and has its main office or branch office in the commonwealth or in participation units in a combined investment fund under section 38A of chapter 29 or, in the city of Boston, in accordance with section 55 in a national bank or trust company in the city of New York; provided, however, that a state-chartered or federally-chartered bank shall be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its successor, shall not be personally liable to the city, town, district or regional school district for any loss of public money by reason of the closing or liquidation of any depository institution described in this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 55b - Investment of Public Funds

Section 55B. All moneys held in the name of a city, town, district or regional school district or any other account under the jurisdiction of a city, town, district, or regional school district or officer thereof, which are not required to be kept liquid for purposes of distribution, shall be invested in such a manner as to require the payment of interest on the money at the highest possible rate reasonably available, taking account of safety liquidity and yield. All officers of a city, town district or regional school district who control the investment of such funds shall invest them prudently, consistent with the provisions of sections fifty-four and fifty-five and, if the funds are the result of gift or grant or bequest, the terms of such gift or grant or bequest, so as to accrue the highest amount of interest reasonably available on such funds taking account of safety, liquidity and yield. The provisions of section sixty-two shall not apply to this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts › Chapter 44 - Municipal Finance › Section 56 - Towns; Fiscal Year

Section 56. The fiscal year of all towns of the commonwealth shall begin with July first and end with the following June thirtieth, and the returns made to the director under section forty-three shall show the financial condition of the town at the close of business on June thirtieth; provided, however, that the treasurer shall, until July fifteenth, enter in his books all items for the payment of bills incurred and salaries and wages earned during the previous fiscal year, excepting payment of school teachers' salaries which have been deferred under the provisions of section forty of chapter seventy-one, and expenditures thereof shall be deemed to be as of June thirtieth preceding.