The LWV of Weston pamphlet, from which this information comes, is available at the Town Clerk's Office...free of charge!
L E A G U E   OF   W O M E N   V O T E R S   O F   W E S T O N
Guide to Weston's Budget Process On-Line

Town Meeting - The Town Meeting form of government is a link with history. It grew out of decision-making used in the American colonies over 300 years ago. It is the purist form of democrary - one person, one vote - and is used in a majority of municipalities in Connecticut. Under the Town Meeting form of government, every qualified voter is a legislator of the town. The major legislative power of the town is vested in the Town Meeting. The remaining legislative power is vested in the Board of Selectmen.

Qualified Voters for Town Meeting - All registered Weston voters are members of the Town Meeting. In addition, U.S. citizens 18 years or older, who own property in Weston assessed at $1000 or more, but are not registered voters, may participate and vote. ACTION at the Town Meeting is taken by a majority of qualified voters present and voting.

Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM) - The purpose of the Annual Town Budget Meeting is to achieve a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Town Budget consists of the Selectmen's Budget (line items for each town agency and service), the Board of Education Budget (which is one line item), and the Capital Budget (items from all agencies and the Board of Education which cost over $10,000 and with a life expectancy of 10 years or more). The last is reviewed by the Capital Planning Committee, an informal, advisory committee of the First Selectman.

NOTE:  the amount may have been raised.

                                        BUDGET REVIEW SCHEDULE 2008-2009 AS DISTRIBUTED BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
                                        Link here to Budget Process Schedule FY'09 for printout purposes

                                       Once the Board of Selectmen approve the First Selectman's Budget on February 7, 2008 it becomes the Selectmen's Budget.    (Note that this is incorrectly stated in the                                        "Budget Review Schedule draft" document - that draft lists incorrectly that the "First Selectman's Budget" is what is submitted to the Board of Finance.)

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Countdown to the Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM)
All Town Agency Meetings mentioned below (Boards, Commissions and Committees) are open to the public.
 


Budget Challenge Procedures...before and after the ATBM...
Get a copy of the LWV of Weston pamphlet at the Town Clerk's Office--this is really complicated!!!  No matter how it happens--either before or after the Annual Town Budget Meeting--a challenge "to the machines" to vote in private on the budget will always require a return to Town Meeting...which has the final word!  See Charter Revision Commission'a now approved changes (#2 and #3).


Special Appropriation Procedures After ATBM
Additional Appropriations - Up to $5000 for any agency may be made by the Board of Selectmen. Total for all agencies not to exceed $50,000 per year.
Supplemental Appropriations - May be made by the Board of Selectmen with the approval of the Board of Finance, provided the total sum does not exceed 2% of the current tax levy in any fiscal year.
Extraordinary Appropriations - May be applied for by any town agency to both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.  If not approved by either Board, the agency may request a Special Town Meeting. At such Town Meeting a minimum of 10% of qualified town voters is required to take action. A majority of that 10% is required to pass the extraordinary expense.  If a petition for a machine vote (Ct. General Statutes Section 7.7 required 200 signatures) is filed against the Call of such Town Meeting, after discussion, the Town Meeting is adjourned and a machine vote is held not less than 7 or more than 14 days thereafter. A majority of 10% of all qualified voters is needed to pass the appropriation.

RESOURCES:


Town Charter (on-line version--Charter Revision in 2003:  ATBM now begins at 8pm, one half hour earlier and ends at 11:30pm, one half hour later); Administrative Code and copies of the LWV of Weston publication available at the Town Clerk's Office in Weston Town Hall.


LWVWeston's Home Page