Section 34. Regulation and control by council.

   The council shall have the power to provide by ordinance or emergency ordinance in every respect not covered by the provisions of this charter for the conduct of registration, nomination, and town elections and for the prevention of fraud in connection therewith, and for a recount of ballots in case of doubt or fraud.

Section 35. Penalties.

   Any person who (a) fails to perform any duty required of him under the provisions of the subtitle or any ordinances passed thereunder, or (b) willfully or corruptly does anything which will or will tend to affect fraudulently and registration, nomination, or town election, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any officer or employee of the town government who is convicted of a misdemeanor under the provisions of this section shall immediately upon conviction thereof cease to hold such office or employment.

Finance

Section 36. Fiscal Year.

   The town shall operate on an annual budget. The fiscal year of the town shall begin on the first day of July and shall end on the last day of June in each year. Such fiscal year shall constitute the tax year, the budget year, and the accounting year.

Section 37. Budget.

   The Mayor, on such date as the Council may require, but at least thirty-two days before the beginning of any fiscal year, shall submit to the Council a budget. The budget shall provide a complete financial plan for the budget year and shall contain estimates of anticipated revenues and proposed expenditures for the coming year. The budget may also provide a contingent fund not to exceed ten per cent (10%) of the total amount of the budget. The total of the anticipated revenues shall equal or exceed the total of the proposed expenditures. The budget shall show in each category the amount budgeted for the current fiscal year and actual expenditures as of the the end of the previous month, as well as proposed expenditures for the coming fiscal year. Along with the budget the Mayor shall present a statement showing the Town's total assets and liabilities. The budget shall be a public record in the office of the Mayor and Council open to public inspection by anyone during normal business hours.

Section 38. Same – Adoption.

   Before adopting the budget, the Council shall hold a public hearing thereon after two successive weeks' notice in some newspaper or newspapers having general circulation within the municipality. The Council may insert new items or may increase or decrease the items of the budget. Where the Council shall increase the total proposed expenditures, it shall also increase the total anticipated revenues in an amount at least equal to such proposed total expenditures. The budget shall be prepared and adopted in the form of an ordinance. A favorable vote of at least a majority of the total elected membership of the Council shall be necessary for adoption.

Section 39. Appropriations.

   No public money may be expended without having been appropriated by the Council. From the effective date of the budget, the several amounts stated therein as proposed expenditures shall be and become appropriated to the several objects and purposes named therein.