(a) On or before November 1 of each year, the highest elected official of each town or city shall submit to the school committee an estimate, prepared in a manner approved by the department of administration, of projected revenues for the next three (3) fiscal years. In the case of the property tax, the projection shall include only changes in the property tax base, not property tax rates.
(b) On or before November 1, the school committee shall submit to the city or town council an estimate of its expenditures by major program and school revenues for the three (3) years, which designates those expenditures, in whole or in part, that are required by state law or regulation.
(c) The state shall cooperate by the preparation and provision of information necessary to develop these three (3) year forecasts. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide estimates of school aid based on current law or based on experience in previous years as determined by the commissioner. The department of elementary and secondary education shall also prepare a three (3) year plan to show the impact of state aid and state educational programs on each school district. All state aid estimates and three (3) year plans prepared by the department of elementary and secondary education shall be submitted to the director of the department of administration for review and comment prior to distribution among school districts. The department of administration shall develop a methodology for the calculation of three (3) year revenue forecasts by cities and towns. At the request of any city or town, the department of administration shall assist the city or town in making a forecast of revenues. In the absence of a request, the department of administration shall certify that any forecasts made by a city or town are consistent with the department of administration's methodology. The retirement board established pursuant to § 36-8-3 shall provide projected rates for contribution to the teacher and municipal retirement systems. The state budget officer shall supply the assumptions he or she is using regarding the performance of the economy of the state.
(d) There shall annually be a joint meeting between the city or town council and the school committee not later than December 31st to review the revenue and expenditure projections and to discuss issues affecting the preparation of the school budget.
(e) For school districts that are not on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year, the department of elementary and secondary education may, upon request of the district, establish other time periods for this planning process.
History of Section.
P.L. 1985, ch. 182, § 13; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 71; P.L. 1989, ch. 126, art. 10, § 1.