2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title XV - Education › Chapter 194-C - School Administrative Units › Section 194-C:9-b - Alternative Budget Procedure.

194-C:9-b Alternative Budget Procedure. –
I. In a school administrative unit composed of 2 or more school districts which has adopted the provisions of RSA 194-C:9-a, the school administrative unit budget adopted according to RSA 194-C:9, I shall be placed before the voters of each school district of that school administrative unit in a separate warrant article at the annual school district meeting. Notwithstanding RSA 32 and RSA 40:13, the budget adopted by the school administrative unit board shall not be amended or changed in any way prior to the vote. Each school district moderator shall cause a vote by paper ballot to be taken, record the number of yeas and nays, and announce the result of the vote at the annual meeting. The ballots shall be delivered to the moderator of the school district with the latest chronological annual meeting. The moderator of the latest chronological annual meeting shall record the total number of yeas and nays, announce the results of the final vote on the question of adopting the school administrative unit budget, and deliver the ballots to the secretary of the school administrative unit. The secretary of the school administrative unit board shall certify the results to the department of revenue administration. A majority of voters voting in favor shall result in adoption of the budget proposed by the school administrative unit board. If the article receives less than a majority vote, the budget amount accepted shall be that of the previous year adjusted for continuing contracts. Wording of the warrant article shall be as follows:
"Shall the voters of __________ (name of school district) __________ adopt a school administrative unit budget of $ _____ for the forthcoming fiscal year in which $ _____ is assigned to the school budget of this school district?
This year's adjusted budget of $ _____ , with $ _____ assigned to the school budget of this school district, will be adopted if the article does not receive a majority vote of all the school district voters voting in this school administrative unit."
II. After a vote on the school administrative unit budget, the secretary of the school administrative unit shall place the ballots and all envelopes or wrapping which had previously contained them in a suitable container showing the contents and the date of the vote. The ballots shall be retained for 60 days from the date of the vote or any recount, unless further preservation is necessary or unless disposal is enjoined by the superior court.
III. Any registered voter who resides in a school district within the school administrative unit may, in writing, petition the secretary of the school administrative unit for a recount of the vote no later than the Friday following the latest chronological annual meeting of school districts in the school administrative unit. The secretary shall schedule a recount, to be conducted by the school administrative unit, not earlier than 5 days nor later than 10 days after the date the secretary receives the petition.
IV. This section shall not apply to a school administrative unit that includes a city.
Source.
2003, 279:2. 2004, 75:4, eff. May 7, 2004. 2012, 7:3, eff. Mar. 22, 2012.