Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §751, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 257, is amended to read:

D. A vacancy occurring on the budget committee must be filled by the committee, subject to confirmation by a majority of the county commissioners, for the balance of the unexpired term. The person appointed to fill the vacant office must be from the same municipality district or unorganized territory as the person vacating the office.

Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §751, sub-§1, ¶E, as amended by PL 1993, c. 345, §1, is further amended to read:

E. Members serve without compensation. Members may not serve in any other municipal or county elective office.

Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §753, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 257, is amended to read:

4. Finality of budget. After the public hearing is completed, the budget committee shall adopt a final budget and transmit that budget to the county commissioners. The county commissioners may not further increase, decrease, alter or revise the budget as adopted by the budget committee, except by unanimous vote of the county commissioners. If the adopted budget is changed by the county commissioners, the budget committee may reject that change by a 2/3 vote of its membership. Those actions are final and are not subject to further action by either the county commissioners or the budget committee. Final action on the budget must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the budget committee and a 2/3 vote of the county commissioners.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the Knox County budget process by providing that a vacancy on the budget committee must be filled by a person from the same district. The bill also prohibits a member of the budget committee from holding any other municipal or county elective office while a member of the budget committee. This bill requires a 2/3 vote of the budget committee and a 2/3 vote of the county commissioners for final action and approval of the budget.