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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Somerset County Budget Procedure
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect before the beginning of the next fiscal year; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §897, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 582, §1, is amended to read:
 
4. Adoption of budget; tax levy. After the public hearing under subsection 3 is completed, the budget committee shall adopt a final budget and transmit that budget to the county commissionersmay further increase, decrease or alter the proposed budget based on information obtained during the public hearing process. The proposed budget must be approved by a majority vote of the budget committee at a duly called meeting not later than 15 days prior to the beginning of the county's fiscal year. The budget committee shall send the approved budget to the county commissioners. The county commissioners may adopt the budget as submitted by the budget committee or after increasing, decreasing or altering the budget by a majority vote of the county commissioners by June 30th.
 
A.   The county commissioners may not further increase, decrease, alter or revise the budget adopted by the budget committee except by unanimous vote of the county commissioners. If the adopted budget is changed by the county commissioners, the budget committee may reject that change by a 2/3 vote of its membership. The budget is final and not subject to further action by either the county commissioners or the budget committee upon failure of the commissioners to unanimously recommend changes in the budget transmitted from the budget committee or upon acceptance or rejection of changes by the budget committee.
 
B. The budget adopted under this subsection is the final authorization for the assessment of county taxes and the county tax authorized is apportioned and collected in accordance with section 706.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §898, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 582, §1, is amended to read:
§ 898.Interim budget
If the budget is not approved before the start of a fiscal year, until a budget is finally adopted, the county shall operate on an interim budget, which may not exceed 80% of the previous year's budget.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved, except as otherwise indicated.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the procedure for adopting the Somerset County budget by allowing the budget to be increased, decreased or altered by the budget committee based on information obtained during the public hearing process. The budget must be approved by a majority vote of the budget committee at a meeting called for that purpose. The county commissioners may adopt the budget as submitted by the budget committee or after increasing, decreasing or altering the proposed budget by a majority vote by June 30th. Current law requires a unanimous vote of the commissioners to change the budget. The bill also requires that, if the county does not approve a new budget, it operate on an interim budget not to exceed the previous year's budget. Current law requires that, if the county does not approve a new budget, it operate on an interim budget not to exceed 80% of the previous year's budget.