November 26, 2023

2024 Annual Town Meeting & FY25 Budget Timeline

2024 Annual Town Meeting & FY25 Budget Timeline

Budget season for 2024-25 is already underway – we’ll keep our timeline updated as the year progresses so you can follow along.

FY25 Town & School Budget Websites

DateTimeline DetailsDocumentsVideos
September 19, 2023Town Manager gains consensus on budget timeline with Select Board, Appropriation Committee and School Committee. (Charter § 7-2(a)) Budget message discussion.   Town Manager issues Budget Schedule before Oct. 1.FY25 School Budgeting Process PDF9/19/23 Joint Meeting Video
October 1, 2023Deadline for establishing and issuing budget schedule (Charter § 7-2(a))
October 3, 2023Town Manager and Select Board develop budget message.FY25 Budget Message PDF

FY25 Town Budget Discussion Issue Paper PDF		10/10/23 Select Board Meeting Video
October 6, 2023CFO distributes budget materials.
October 12, 2023Deadline to submit CPC applications
November 1, 2023Municipal Services budgets due to Town Manager.
November 14, 2023Select Board discusses its potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes
November 14, 2023Town Manager CIP review.
November 14, 2023CPC capital requests due to CIC
November 14, 2023Long Term capital plans due to CIC.FY25 School Capital Plan
November 14, 2023Select Board Budget Listening Session
December 1, 2023Town officials and multiple member bodies may submit draft warrant articles to Town Counsel for review and comment (S.B. policy).11/29/23 “All Hands” Meeting Video
December 5, 2023Select Board discusses its own potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes.12/05/23 Select Board Meeting Video
December 14, 2023Select Board, School Committee, Appropriation Committee Joint Meeting – Budget Update, including School Dept. presentation.FY25 School Budget Presentation 12/14/2312/14/23 Joint Meeting Video
December 19, 2023Select Board vote to open the ATM warrant on January 7, 2024 (or before). (120 days before ATM)   Select Board discusses its own potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes.12/19/23 Select Board Meeting Video
December 19, 2023Town Manager completes Municipal Services budget review.
December 20, 2023CIC & CPC complete capital hearings and submit to Town Manager.
December 21, 2023School Superintendent presents budgetFY25 School Budget Presentation 12/21/2312/21/23 School Committee Meeting Video
January 4, 2024School Superintendent presents budget to School Committee. Select Board & Appropriation Committee will attend.01/04/24 Joint Meeting Video
January 7, 2024ATM Warrant opens. Submission of proposed warrant articles begins.
January 9, 2024Select Board discusses its own potential ATM articles.
January 11, 2024School Committee Public Hearing/Board Discussion, with Select Board and Appropriation Committee; will include information on funding sources.
January 18, 2024School Committee Votes FY 25 Budget
January 23, 2024Select Board review its own ATM articles; vote to submit own articles into warrant.
January 23, 2024Town Manager submits a consolidated budget to the Select Board.
February 6, 2024ATM Warrant closes (90 days before ATM, Charter § 2-3).
• All petitions for warrant articles submitted to Town Clerk for signature confirmation.
• Town Manager refers all appropriation articles to Appropriation Committee.
• Select Board refers voter petitions to Board of Registrars (MGL c.39 § 10).
•Select Board refers all zoning articles to Planning Bd. within 14 days of submission (MGL c.40A § 5).
• Select Board conducts budget and capital hearings.  
• Select Board reviews language of its own ATM articles.
February, 2024Planning Board public hearing on zoning articles (date scheduled by Planning Board, Zoning Bylaw §210-153; MGL c.40A §5.
February 13, 2024Draft ATM Warrant to Town Counsel
Feb.19 – 23 School Vacation
February 6, 13, 27, 2024• Select Board budget and capital hearings.  
• Select Board finalize language of its own ATM articles.
March, 2024Public Forum – General Bylaw articles submitted into Warrant, hosted by those proposing the General Bylaw articles. (optional)
March 5, 2024• Select Board budget and capital hearings.  
• Select Board finalize language of its own ATM articles.
March 19, 2023Select Board adopts budget and capital and submits to Appropriation Committee.
March 19, 2024• Draft ATM Warrant to Select Board for review.  
• Working session with Department Heads – Non-financial Warrant articles, as needed.  
• Select Board take positions on Warrant articles
April 1, 2024Last day to file nomination papers for town election (MGL c.53 § 7, 49 days prior to election).
April 2, 2024• Select Board Review ATM Warrant  
• Select Board take positions on Warrant articles
April 16, 2024• Select Board review ATM Warrant.
• Select Board take positions on Warrant articles.
• Select Board finalize ballot questions.
• Select Board review draft Motions.
April 15, 2024Appropriation Committee holds hearing and votes on budget and delivers required report by April 22. (At least 14 days before ATM, Charter § 7-2(b))
April 12, 2024Warrant and Motions Document completed.
April 15, 2024Deadline for submission of powerpoint presentations for ATM. Send to Moderator for approval.
April 15, 2024Deadline for final written notice of any ballot questions to be submitted to the Town Clerk (35 days before annual town election, MGL c.54 § 42C).
April 16, 2024• Select Board review draft Motions.  
• Select Board take positions on Warrant articles.
• Select Board sign ATM Warrant.
• Select Board discuss its town meeting presentations.
April 16, 2024Last day to register to vote for the Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Election (20 days before Town Meeting/Election M.G.L. c. 51 § 1F).
April   , 2024Moderator’s Meeting: Review of final motions and meeting process with Town Counsel, SB Chair, Moderator, Appropriation Committee Chair, Town Manager, Principal Planner/Planning Board Chair, School Committee Chair, School Superintendent, Finance Director, Town Clerk, Asst. Town Manager, Deputy Moderator.
School Vacation April 15 – 20
April 16, 2024Select Board review and assign town meeting duties/presentations.
April 22, 2024Appropriation Committee Report Due (At least 14 days before ATM, Charter § 7-2(b))
April 22, 2024Town Report, Q&As and other documents made available (Annual Town Report 14 days before ATM, Charter § 3-1(f)).
April 22, 2024All Town Meeting Reports/handouts Are Published and Available to the Public
April 28, 2024Combined Election and Warrant posted at least 8 days before ATM (Bylaws § 47-1; MGL c.39 §§ 9A, 10).
May 6, 2024Annual Town Meeting (First Monday in May, Bylaws § 47-2)
May 20, 2024Annual Town Election (3rd Monday in May, Bylaws § 47-2)
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Filed Under: FY25 Budget, Town Meeting 2024

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