ARTICLE 43. - FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING
Part of the Code of Ordinances of West Warwick, RI.
The text
Sec. 1. - Presentation of budget at all-day referendum.#
Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special act to the contrary, whenever any annual or special financial town meeting for the Town of West Warwick shall adjourn or recess without having adopted a budget or ordering a tax, the town council may by ordinance provide for the presentation of a budget less than or equal to the budget previously presented to the voters at an annual or special financial town meeting, as well as any other warrant items as may be directed by the council, to a meeting of the voters of the town to be held on a date specified in the ordinance, at which meeting all of the voters of the town shall be eligible to vote on the budget by secret ballot.
(Laws 1993, ch. 23, § 1)
Sec. 2. - Procedure for vote at all-day referendum.#
In the event of the passage of the ordinance as set forth in Section 1, the town clerk shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, and shall provide ballot boxes for the purpose of receiving the votes of the voters, and shall cause to be printed ballots containing the following question: "Shall the budget for the Town of West Warwick for the fiscal year 19[20]___ through 19[20]___, be adopted in the total amount of $_____ which would result in an estimated tax increase (decrease) of $_____." The ballot shall also include such additional warrant items for approval of the voters as the town council may deem appropriate. The ballots shall provide for the means of expressing the voters' choice[s] thereon in printed boxes marked "YES" and "NO." The town clerk shall provide for the opening of the polls at 9:00 a.m. and for the closing of the polls at 9:00 p.m. on the date specified and shall provide proper receptacles for the receipt of the voters' ballots. At the closing of the polls[,] the ballots shall be counted under the supervision of the moderator of the town meeting and the town clerk, in public, and the results of the vote shall be publicly announced and recorded. If a majority of the votes are cast in favor of the budget[,] it shall be valid and effective for the purpose of levying a tax. If a majority of the votes cast are against the budget, or in the event of a tie vote, the budget shall be recorded as defeated. The results of the vote on warrant items shall be treated in like manner.
(Laws 1993, ch. 23, § 2)
Sec. 3. - Other business not affected.#
The presentation of any budget requiring the vote of the voters as set forth in Section 2 shall not in any way restrict or interfere with the other business properly before the meeting. Business may proceed without interruption and shall be disposed of according to law.
(Laws 1993, ch. 23, § 3)
Sec. 4. - Retroactive effect.#
Upon approval of the question presented in section 5, this act shall be given retroactive effect to May 18, 1993, and all acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
(Laws 1993, ch. 23, § 4)
Sec. 5. - Referendum question.#
The provisions of this act shall be presented to the voters of the town of West Warwick for their approval at any special or general election to be held within said town, in the following form: "Shall a special act for the town of West Warwick providing for an all-day referendum on the budget and on any additional warrant items submitted by the town council, if the financial town meeting adjourns or recesses without approving a budget, be approved?"
(Laws 1993, ch. 23, § 5; Laws 1993, ch. 76, § 1)