(1) If by town meeting vote or charter provision, a budget committee has been established to review proposed town expenditures, the recommendations of the budget committee shall must be printed in addition to those of the municipal officers.

(2) If the action affects the school budget, a recommendation by the school board shall must be printed in addition to those of the municipal officers and the budget committee, if any.

Sec. 6. 30-A MRSA §2528, as amended by PL 1997, c. 733, §1, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:

The provisions of this section apply to all articles on the warrant for the annual town meeting that request an appropriation of funds by the town and are a part of the annual town budget.

SUMMARY

This bill extends the required use of a secret ballot for town meeting votes to the election of town officials, approval of local initiatives and adoption of budget articles.