What are the new public hearing requirements for fire district budgets?
Beginning with budgets prepared in 2007 for the 2008 fiscal year, fire districts must prepare a proposed budget and hold a public hearing to discuss the contents of the proposed budget. The law specifies the public hearing must be held on the third Tuesday in October. The hearing must be conducted and scheduled in a manner that maximizes public participation. At least five days prior to the date of the hearing, notice of the hearing must be published at least once in the fire district’s official newspaper or, if a fire district does not have an official newspaper, in a newspaper having general circulation within the district. Similarly, at least five days prior to the date of the hearing, a copy of the notice must be posted on the signboard maintained by the town clerk of each of the towns served by the fire district. The notice must also be posted on the municipal and/or fire district websites, if such websites exist. The hearing notice must state the time and place where the hearing
