C. It is the intent of the Legislature that a school board shall attempt to obtain public participation in the development of the school budget format.

4.__Budget format; town or city charter. In a municipality where the responsibility for final adoption of the school budget is vested by municipal charter in a council, the school budget format may be changed through amendment of the charter under the home rule procedures of Title 30-A, chapter 111, except that the amendment must be approved by a majority of voters in an election in which the total vote is at least 20% of the number of votes cast in the municipality in the last gubernatorial election.

5.__Budget format; town meeting. When the final budget authority is vested in a town meeting operating under the general enabling procedures of Title 30-A, the format of the school budget may be determined by the town meeting or under the procedures of Title 30-A, section 2522 or 2528.

6.__Budget format; community school district. The following provisions apply to the budget format of a community school district.

A. An article containing the district's proposed budget format must be placed on the next warrant issued or ballot printed if:

(1) A majority of the district school committee votes to place it on the warrant or ballot; or

(2) A written petition signed by at least 10% of the number of voters voting in the last gubernatorial election in each municipality within the community school district requests it to be on the warrant or ballot.

B. The article containing the budget format may be voted on by secret ballot at an election conducted in accordance with Title 30-A, sections 2528 to 2532.

C. The district school committee shall:

(1) Issue a warrant specifying that the municipal officers of the municipalities within the community school district shall place the budget format article on the secret ballot; and