Budget

Planning for future increases in education funding requires clear communication among local officials and current information on the Education Reform Act of 1993 (as amended). As such, policy makers, financial officials and school committee members should meet periodically throughout the year. It is important that all officials keep abreast of the financial impacts of this law (e.g., the foundation budget, school enrollment trends, municipal revenue growth factor, and net school spending). With adequate communication and financial planning, a community may be able to forecast the potential impacts of this law on the community’s budget process.

Available funds include free cash, stabilization funds, overlay surplus, expendable trust funds and other reserves.

An override is a voted increase in the levy limit. An override cannot increase a community’s levy limit above the community’s levy ceiling. The levy ceiling is equal to 21Ž2 percent of the full and fair cash value of all taxable property in the community. When an override is passed the levy limit for the year is calculated by including the amount of the override. The override results in a permanent increase in the levy limit of the community. Overrides require a majority vote of approval by the electorate. A community can also assess taxes in excess of its levy limit or levy ceiling for the payment of certain capital projects and for the payment of specified debt service costs called exclusions. An exclusion for the purpose of raising funds for debt service costs is referred to as a debt exclusion, and an exclusion for the purpose of raising funds for capital project costs is referred to as a capital outlay expenditure exclusion. Both exclusions require voter approval with very limited exceptions. Unlike overrides, exclusions do not become part of the base upon which the levy limit is calculated for future years.

The levy limit is the maximum amount a community can raise through property taxes in any given year. The levy limit is based on the previous year’s limit plus allowable increases. These allowable increases include the annual 21Ž2 percent increase, new growth and overrides. The levy limit will always be below or at most equal to, the levy ceiling of 21Ž2 percent of the total full and fair cash value of the community’s taxable real and personal property. A community may also levy above the levy limit or ceiling through an exclusion.

Expenditures that may be made without an appropriation by town meeting or city council include debt service payments, final court judgments, snow and ice removal deficits, overlay allowance for abatements and exemptions, prior years’ overlay deficits, Cherry Sheet offset items and state and county charges. These expenditures are listed on page two of the tax recap under “Amounts to be Raised.”