TITLE II
COUNTIES

Chapter 24
COUNTY CONVENTIONS

Section 24:1

    24:1 Members. – The county convention consists of the state representatives of the representative districts of the county.

Source. RS 23:2. CS 24:2. GS 22:3. GL 23:4. 1889, 62:1. PS 24:3. PL 35:4. RL 44:5. 1945, 172:1. 1951, 155:1. RSA 24:1. 1965, 330:14, eff. Sept. 6, 1965.

Section 24:1-a

    24:1-a Repealed by 1965, 330:15, eff. Sept. 6, 1965. –

Section 24:2

    24:2 Officers and Executive Committee. – At its first regular meeting, or at any subsequent meeting when necessary, the county convention shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, clerk, and an executive committee. Membership on the executive committee shall be divided between majority and minority party representation in the same proportion that county convention membership of the majority party bears to county convention membership of the minority party, provided minority party membership shall be at least one member unless the convention does not include any member of the minority party. The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and clerk shall be members of the executive committee, ex officio. The county convention may designate the executive committee to act as a subcommittee to consider the budget, or other matters, and make recommendations to the county convention.

Source. RS 23:2. CS 24:2. GS 22:3. GL 23:4. 1889, 62:1. PS 24:3. PL 35:4. RL 44:5. 1945, 172:1. 1951, 155:1. RSA 24:2. 1963, 113:2. 1965, 330:16. 1969, 208:1. 1973, 411:1. 1995, 134:1, eff. May 24, 1995. 2014, 100:1, eff. Aug. 10, 2014.

Section 24:2-a

    24:2-a Officers of Executive Committee. – The executive committee shall elect its chairperson, vice-chairperson, and clerk. Officers of the county convention may be officers of the executive committee.

Source. 1973, 411:2. 1995, 134:1, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:2-b

    24:2-b Vacancy in Membership of Executive Committee. – If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the executive committee, another member of the county delegation shall be elected to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by a method to be determined by the county delegation at its first meeting convened according to the provisions of RSA 24:9-a. The method determined by the county delegation for filling the vacancy shall remain in effect until it is changed by a vote of the county delegation.

Source. 1994, 113:1, eff. July 10, 1994.

Meetings

Section 24:3 to 24:9

    24:3 to 24:9 Repealed by 1961, 199:2, eff. Aug. 25, 1961. –

Section 24:9-a

    24:9-a First Meeting. – The chair of the county delegation shall set the time and place for the first meeting of the county convention to be held during the week of the second Wednesday of December of each even-numbered year and shall notify the clerk of the house of representatives prior to the first Wednesday of December. The time and place of the meeting shall be announced by the clerk of the house of representatives on the first Wednesday of December of each even-numbered year.

Source. 1951, 155:1. RSA 24:3. 1961, 199:1. 1967, 137:1. 1976, 45:9. 1979, 194:1. 1987, 326:1, eff. July 24, 1987. 2001, 26:1, eff. July 14, 2001.

Section 24:9-b

    24:9-b Repealed by 1976, 45:13, eff. July 31, 1976. –

Section 24:9-c

    24:9-c Further Meetings. – The chairperson of the convention or a majority of the members of the convention may, and the chairperson of the convention upon the written request of the county commissioners shall, call a further meeting or meetings of the county convention. On a day on which there is a meeting of the house of representatives such meetings may be held only in the city or town in which such meeting of the house of representatives is held. On days when there is no meeting of the house of representatives such meetings may be held at any place in the county.

Source. 1863, 2735:2. GS 22:7. GL 23:12. PS 24:13. PL 35:15. 1933, 120:3. 1941, 134:1, 2. RL 44:17, 20. 1953, 118:1. RSA 24:4, 6, 7. 1961, 199:1. 1995, 134:2, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:9-d

    24:9-d Notice. – The clerk of the convention, or his or her designee, shall mail to each member of the convention a notice stating the time, place and purpose of further meetings at least 7 days before the day of the meeting and shall cause to be published a like notice at least 7 days before the day of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Mailing such notice is not required during any session of the general court, if the notice is printed for 2 legislative days in the journal of the house of representatives.

Source. 1863, 2735:2. GS 22:7. GL 23:12. PS 24:13. PL 35:15. 1933, 120:3. 1941, 134:1, 2. RL 44:17, 20. 1953, 118:1. RSA 24:4, 6, 7. 1961, 199:1. 1965, 330:18, eff. Sept. 6, 1965. 2008, 181:1, eff. Aug. 10, 2008.

Section 24:9-e

    24:9-e Repealed by 2007, 2:1, eff. June 19, 2007. –

Section 24:9-ee

    24:9-ee Compensation for County Conventions. – Members of each county convention shall receive from the county treasury a sum not to exceed $25 per day for actual attendance at meetings of their respective conventions and an allowance for travel expenses to and from the place of meeting at a rate per mile not in excess of the rate allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service to be set by a vote of the respective county convention. They are not entitled to receive any compensation or mileage for attending such meetings when such meetings are held at the state house in Concord on a legislative day.

Source. 1969, 491:9. 1971, 514:11. 1973, 133:1. 1979, 145:1. 1987, 338:1, eff. July 24, 1987. 2007, 2:2, eff. June 19, 2007.

Section 24:9-eee

    24:9-eee Compensation for Coos County Convention. – Notwithstanding RSA 24:9-ee, members of the Coos county convention shall receive from the county treasury a sum not to exceed $50 per day for actual attendance at meetings of the convention and an allowance for travel expenses to and from the place of meeting at a rate per mile not in excess of the rate allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service to be set by a vote of the county convention. The members of the Coos county convention are not entitled to receive compensation or mileage for attending such county meetings when such meetings are held at the state house in Concord on a legislative day.

Source. 2015, 69:1, eff. Aug. 1, 2015.

Section 24:9-f

    24:9-f Meetings of Committees. – Either the chairperson of the convention or the chairperson of the executive committee may call meetings of the executive committee to be held at any time either at the state house in Concord or at any place within the respective county. The members of the executive committee shall be entitled to the same compensation and travel expenses for actual attendance at such meetings as is provided for attendance at meetings of the convention of said county; members of subcommittees, study committees and committees of investigation may receive such compensation as determined by their respective county conventions for the discharge of their official business plus an allowance for travel expenses at the rate set for attendance at meetings of the convention of said county for travel to and from the place of meetings; said sums to be paid from the county treasury, provided that no such compensation and expenses shall be allowed when such meeting is held at the state house in Concord.

Source. 1951, 155:3. RSA 24:9. 1961, 199:1. 1973, 133:2. 1979, 145:2, eff. Aug. 4, 1979.

Section 24:10

    24:10 University of New Hampshire Extension: Program Purpose and Intent. –
I. The mission of the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension, also known as UNH cooperative extension, is to educate people so that they can make informed decisions. Cooperative extension programs teach New Hampshire residents in practical ways and offers programs locally in all 10 counties. Research results are presented in a usable manner enabling individuals, family members, business owners, and community leaders to apply this knowledge to their daily needs. In addition, the youth of New Hampshire learn skills and gain knowledge from cooperative extension programs which help them develop into productive and responsible citizens. By training and utilizing volunteers, the cooperative extension reaches more people and reduces program delivery costs. Programs and information provided through the cooperative extension enable New Hampshire to remain economically healthy and competitive by focusing on helping individuals, families, the state's economy, and its natural resources. These efforts result in our state being a better place to live, work, and visit.
II. It is the policy of the state of New Hampshire to recognize and support the historical tripartite cooperative agreement between the county, state, and federal governments enabling implementation of cooperative extension's effective outreach efforts.
III. The state recognizes the commitment of the university of New Hampshire as a land grant institution serving the people of New Hampshire beyond the classroom through the outreach network of cooperative extension as directed by the Smith-Lever Act, as amended by both legislation and appropriation.
IV. Federal funding for cooperative extension has and may continue to expand beyond that provided through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to other departments of the United States government.
V. The capability of cooperative extension is strong and it must continue to increase in order to position itself in serving the people of New Hampshire into the 21st century.
VI. The state endorses the commitments of county conventions and commissioners to the tripartite partnership to the appropriation and expenditure of county funds in support of cooperative extension at the local level.

Source. 1913, 10:1. 1917, 2:1. PL 35:6. RL 44:8. RSA 24:10. 1969, 5:1. 1995, 134:3, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:10-a

    24:10-a County Programs; University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. –
I. The state recognizes the county extension advisory council as the local sponsor of cooperative extension programs in the counties working in collaboration with the university of New Hampshire.
II. Cooperative extension shall, through its county outreach centers, take full advantage of communication technologies and distance-learning capabilities to bring university-based research and knowledge to the citizens of New Hampshire.
III. The chancellor, university system of New Hampshire, or designee, acting as the agent of the university system of New Hampshire trustees, shall negotiate the revision of the existing memorandum of understanding between the university system of New Hampshire trustees and the county convention relative to the support and operations of the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension programs in the counties. The revised memorandum of understanding shall be negotiated and adopted in 1995 and reviewed every 6 years.
IV. The county convention may raise and appropriate funds to supplement state, federal, and other funds for the support of the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension programs provided to the counties. The sums appropriated and any other funds that become available shall be expended through the county extension advisory council which shall be authorized to sponsor and guide this educational work in collaboration with the university of New Hampshire. If such council ceases to exist, the sums appropriated may be expended by any other administrative entity legally established for the purposes indicated by the Smith-Lever Act.

Source. 1995, 134:4, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:11

    24:11 Repealed by 1985, 178:1, I, eff. July 26, 1985. –

Section 24:12

    24:12 Repealed by 1985, 178:1, II, eff. July 26, 1985. –

Section 24:12-a

    24:12-a Delegation Coordinators for Hillsborough, Carroll, and Rockingham Counties. – The county conventions for Hillsborough, Carroll, and Rockingham counties shall each have the authority to employ a delegation coordinator and other employees who shall perform duties as required by the executive committee, subcommittees, and the legislative delegation.

Source. 1989, 63:1. 1993, 41:1, eff. June 7, 1993. 2003, 25:3, eff. April 30, 2003. 2018, 225:2, eff. June 8, 2018.

Section 24:13

    24:13 Powers. –
I. The following powers shall be vested in the county convention:
(a) To raise county taxes;
(b) To make appropriations for the use of the county;
(c) To authorize the purchase of real estate for its use, the sale and conveyance of its real estate;
(d) To authorize the erection, enlargement or repair of its buildings exceeding an expense of $25,000; and
(e) To issue bonds for its debts.
II. Notwithstanding any other laws to the contrary, the county convention of any county shall have the power to appropriate a contingency fund to meet the cost of unanticipated expenses that may arise during the year or to provide payment for a performance audit under RSA 28:3-b, to be expended only upon approval by the executive committee of the county delegation, who shall make a detailed report of all expenditures from said fund to be published annually in the county annual report. The amount in said fund shall not exceed one percent of the amount appropriated by the county for county purposes exclusive of capital budget and debt retirement during the preceding year.
II-a. Notwithstanding any other laws to the contrary, the county convention of any county shall have the power to appropriate a contingency fund to provide payment for a forensic audit of county financial matters under RSA 28:3-c, to be expended only upon approval by the executive committee of the county delegation, who shall make a detailed report of all expenditures from said fund to be published annually in the county annual report.
III. [Repealed.]
IV. Any county upon a majority vote of the county commissioners and subsequent majority vote of the county convention may establish a nonlapsing reserve account for the purposes of funding long-term care services.

Source. RS 23:2. CS 24:2. 1860, 2368:1. 1863, 2735:1. GS 22:2. GL 23:2. PS 24:4. PL 35:5. 1933, 120:1. RL 44:6. RSA 24:13. 1979, 152:1. 1986, 8:2. 1988, 216:2. 1989, 266:36, II, eff. July 1, 1989. 1998, 388:7, eff. Nov. 25, 1998. 2003, 25:1, eff. April 30, 2003. 2018, 61:1, eff. July 24, 2018. 2019, 191:3, eff. Sept. 8, 2019. 2023, 178:1, eff. Oct. 3, 2023.

Section 24:13-a

    24:13-a Appropriations for Life and Health Insurance. – The county convention of any county shall have the power to raise and appropriate such sums of money as it judges necessary to provide group plan life, accident, medical, surgical and hospitalization insurance benefits, or any combination of such benefits, for all regular employees of the county and their dependents. The cost may be paid wholly or partly by the county.

Source. 1963, 140:2, eff. Aug. 18, 1963.

Section 24:13-b

    24:13-b Sponsoring Certain Benefits. – A county may at any legal meeting vote to sponsor a group life, accident, medical, surgical and hospitalization insurance benefit or any combination of such benefits for regular employees of the county and their dependents under which plan said employees agree to pay the premiums. In such case the county treasurer is authorized to withhold from the compensation of such employees who agree to such plan the amount of the premiums and pay over the same to the company furnishing such benefits.

Source. 1963, 140:2, eff. Aug. 18, 1963.

Section 24:13-bb

    24:13-bb Geographic Information Systems. –
I. Any county may establish computer-based geographic information systems and control the distribution of that information, subject to RSA 91-A. The county may finance the completion and perpetuation of the system through a special revenue fund or through nonprofit corporations. The county may charge fees for the use of the system.
II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purposes of paragraph I of this section, the county convention of any county, may vote to restrict revenues from a specific source to expenditures for specific purposes. Such revenues and expenditures shall be accounted for in a special revenue fund separate from the general fund. Any surplus in any fund created under this paragraph shall not be deemed part of the general fund accumulated surplus nor shall any surplus be expended for any purpose or transferred to any appropriation until such time as the county convention votes to appropriate a specific amount from said fund for a specific purpose related to the purposes of this section.

Source. 1994, 76:1, eff. July 5, 1994.

Section 24:13-c

    24:13-c Hillsborough County and Rockingham County. –
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary the following procedures shall apply in Hillsborough county and Rockingham county:
I. The county commissioners shall deliver or mail to each member of the county convention, the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town, and the mayor of each city within the county, and to the secretary of state prior to the fifteenth day of August a statement of the condition of the county treasury depicting expenditures and income on the preceding June 30.
II. Not later than March 31 of each year, each department head shall mail or deliver to the county commissioners their itemized recommendations of the sums necessary to operate their department for the next year.
III. The county commissioners shall mail or deliver to the executive committee of the county convention, each other member of the county convention, the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town, and the mayor of each city within the county, and the secretary of state, prior to May 3 annually, their itemized recommendations of the sums necessary to be raised by the county for the next year. They shall state in detail the objects for which the money is required and the sources of revenue to fund such recommendations. They shall also provide a statement of actual income and expenditures for at least 9 months of the preceding fiscal year. The county commissioners shall conduct a public hearing on such itemized recommendations at least 7 days after they have been mailed or delivered, and prior to the May 15 submission date.
IV. The county convention shall not vote appropriations for the ensuing budget period until 28 days have elapsed from the mailing of the recommendations specified in paragraph III. All moneys to be appropriated by the county shall be stipulated in the budget on a "gross" basis, showing revenues from all sources, including gifts, grants, bequests and bond issues, as off-setting revenues to appropriations affected. The executive committee shall conduct at least one public hearing on the budget in the form in which it is to be submitted to the county convention, and shall mail a written notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing to each member of the county convention.
V. The appropriations voted pursuant to RSA 24:13 shall be itemized in detail and a record thereof shall be kept by the clerk of the county convention and the county treasurer. The executive committee of the county convention is authorized to review the expenditures of the county after adoption of the county budget. Such review may occur as often as voted by the executive committee, but not less than quarterly. The executive committee or the county convention may require the county commissioners to report once each quarter to the county convention or to the executive committee the expenditures of the county as compared to the budget as voted.
VI. Any request to transfer funds must be made in writing by a department head to the county commissioners who may approve such requests for transfers up to such amount as the executive committee may from time to time approve by majority vote. If the amount of the department's request exceeds such amount, and the county commissioners approve the request, the commissioners shall report in writing their recommendation to the executive committee. The executive committee by majority vote may approve such transfer of funds in whole or in part.
VII. The county convention shall adopt its annual budget not later than September 1. Notice of the meeting to adopt the annual budget shall be mailed or delivered to each member of the county delegation at least 14 days prior to the date on which the meeting is to be held. At least 7 days prior to any vote to adopt the annual budget, the county commissioners shall make available on the county website and at other locations if deemed appropriate by the executive committee, a sufficient number of copies of the proposed annual budget to permit each member of the county convention to receive a copy of said budget. If the county convention fails to adopt its annual budget by June 30, then the convention is authorized to enact a continuing operating resolution which authorizes the county officials to make expenditures at the same level as the previous year's authorized operating budget, exclusive of capital items. If the county convention does not adopt its annual budget by September 1 the budget as proposed by the county commissioners shall take effect.
VIII. Upon written recommendation of the county commissioners and upon mailing or delivering such recommendations to the persons specified in paragraph III, the county delegation may vote a supplemental appropriation after the adoption of the annual county budget. The funding for such supplemental appropriation shall be made, after a public hearing, held for the purpose, by the executive committee and with the approval of the county convention, by the following methods, singularly or in combination as determined by the county convention:
(a) From available current surplus;
(b) By raising the amount from county taxes to be imposed in the next fiscal year;
(c) From such other funds that are made available to the county.
IX. The final form of the annual county budget and the final form of all supplemental county appropriations shall be filed with the secretary of state, the county treasurer, the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town or the mayor of each city within the county, and the commissioner of revenue administration not later than 30 days after the adoption of the annual budget or supplemental appropriation and shall be signed by the chairperson and clerk of the county convention.
X. Upon receipt of the annual county budget the department of revenue administration shall examine such budget and delete any appropriation not made in accordance with law. The department shall determine the total amount of funds necessary to be raised by the county tax which shall be apportioned pursuant to RSA 76:1. The amount of money each municipality is required to contribute to the county shall be forwarded to the county treasurer who shall issue a warrant pursuant to RSA 29:11.

Source. 1978, 35:1. 1985, 59:1-3. 1995, 134:5-7, eff. May 24, 1995. 2014, 51:1, eff. July 26, 2014. 2017, 191:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2018. 2023, 20:1, 2, eff. July 3, 2023.

Section 24:13-d

    24:13-d Carroll County; Transfers of Appropriations. –
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the following procedure shall apply in Carroll county:
I. Prior to the transfer of an appropriation, or any part thereof exceeding $1,000, or an accumulative total exceeding $1,000, from one line item to another, the following procedure shall apply: a request to transfer an appropriation shall be made in writing, by the department head, whether elected or appointed, to the county commissioners, who, if they approve the same, shall report in writing their recommendation to the executive committee.
II. The commissioners shall request to the executive committee, in writing, all interdepartmental transfers of appropriations, regardless of the amount.
III. The county executive committee by majority vote may approve such transfers of funds in whole or in part.

Source. 2015, 98:1, eff. Aug. 4, 2015.

Section 24:14

    24:14 Appropriations. –
I. Appropriations by the county convention shall be itemized in detail and a record thereof shall be kept by the clerk of the convention. The executive committee of the county shall have authority to review the expenditures of the county after adoption of the county budget. Such review may occur as often as voted by the executive committee, but no less than twice each year. The convention may require the county commissioners to report once each quarter to the convention or to the executive committee the expenditures of the county as compared to the budget as voted, in such detail as determined by the convention. The county convention may require that the county commissioners obtain written authority from the executive committee before transferring any appropriation or part thereof under RSA 24:15. The county convention may adopt a policy regarding the acceptance of grants.
I-a. In this chapter, an appropriation means an amount of money authorized for a specified purpose by the legislative body.
II. The county convention shall adopt the annual budget within 90 days after the beginning of the county's fiscal year if the county operates on a calendar year basis. If the county operates on an optional fiscal year basis pursuant to RSA 31:94-a, then the county convention shall adopt the annual budget not later than September 1. If the county convention does not adopt the annual budget by the time specified, the budget, as recommended by the commissioners, shall take effect as the county budget.

Source. 1933, 120:2. RL 44:7. 1947, 142:3. RSA 24:14. 1961, 142:1. 1977, 162:1, eff. Aug. 6, 1977. 2010, 178:1, eff. Aug. 20, 2010.

Section 24:14-a

    24:14-a Supplemental Appropriations. – The commissioners may apply to the county convention for an appropriation to be made subsequent to the adoption of the annual county budget, or the convention, on its own initiative, may consider and act upon a proposed supplemental appropriation. The clerk of the convention shall deliver or mail to each member of the county convention (who will be in office on the date of the convention vote on the proposed supplemental appropriation) and to the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town and the mayor of each city within the county and to the secretary of state a statement including the amount of the proposed supplemental appropriation and the objects for which the money is required. The convention shall schedule a public hearing on such appropriation to be held within 30 days of the mailing or delivery of said statement. Notice of the date of said hearing and the date of the convention vote on the proposed appropriation shall accompany said statement. A supplemental county appropriation shall require a vote of the county convention as provided in RSA 24:13.

Source. 1977, 162:2. 1991, 194:2. 1995, 134:8, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:15

    24:15 Exceeding Appropriations. –
I. No county commissioner, or elected or appointed county officer, shall pay, or agree to pay, or incur any liability for the payment of, any sum of money for which the county convention has made no appropriation, or in excess of any appropriation so made except for the payment of judgments rendered against the county.
II. In the case of an emergency, the county commissioners, or an elected or appointed county officer, may apply to the executive committee, which, after a public hearing, may grant to the county commissioners or officer authority in writing to make such emergency payment.
III. Unless otherwise ordered by the county convention, under RSA 24:14, whenever it appears that the amount appropriated for a specific purpose will not be used in whole or in part for such purpose, the county commissioners may use such sum to augment other appropriations, if necessary, provided the total payments for all purposes do not exceed the total sum of appropriations in any year made by the county convention.
IV. If any county commissioner, or elected or appointed county officer, is found in a prosecution for violation of RSA 643:1 to have paid or incurred any liability for the payment of any sum of money contrary to this section, it shall be prima facie evidence that such county commissioner or officer has knowingly refrained from performing a duty imposed by law.

Source. 1951, 73:1, par. 7-a. RSA 24:15. 1961, 142:2. 1975, 297:1. 1995, 134:9, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:16

    24:16 Penalty. – Any violation of the provisions of RSA 24:15 or of provisions of RSA 29:8 shall subject the person or persons so violating to the provisions of RSA 661:9, providing for removal from office. A petition of 5 resident taxpayers of the county may be made to the the county commissioners, the county attorney, or a superior court judge for such removal or for removal for official misconduct.

Source. 1951, 73:1, par. 7-b. RSA 24:16. 1995, 277:1, eff. Aug. 19, 1995. 2016, 178:2, eff. Aug. 2, 2016.

Section 24:17

    24:17 Investigations. – The county convention by a vote of a majority of all its members may appoint a committee of its own members, not to exceed 5, and not over 3 to be of either of the 2 major political parties, to investigate conditions pertaining to the conduct of county affairs by any county officer or any person appointed or employed by such officer, which committee shall have power to summon witnesses, examine them under oath, secure a transcript of the testimony and do other necessary acts to conduct such an investigation.

Source. 1919, 125:1. PL 35:7. 1941, 62:1. RL 44:9.

Section 24:18

    24:18 Expense of Investigation. – The county convention shall appropriate a certain sum for expenses for any committee established pursuant to RSA 24:17. The reasonable expenses of such investigation shall be paid by the county when approved by a judge of the superior court.

Source. 1919, 125:2. PL 35:8. RL 44:10. RSA 24:18. 1973, 384:1, eff. Aug. 29, 1973.

Section 24:19

    24:19 Recommendations of Investigating Committee. – The recommendations of this committee when accepted by the county convention shall be entered at length in the next county report.

Source. 1919, 125:3. PL 35:9. RL 44:11.

Section 24:20

    24:20 Taxes. – The county convention shall, during each biennial session of the legislature, grant county taxes for its county for 2 years; but the tax for each year shall be voted separately and collected in the year for which it was voted.

Source. 1878, 23:6. GL 23:3. PS 24:5. PL 35:10. RL 44:12.

Section 24:21

    24:21 Statement of Financial Condition. – The county commissioners shall deliver or mail to each member of the county convention, the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town and the mayor of each city within the county and to the secretary of state prior to the fifteenth day of February annually, a statement of the condition of the county treasury depicting expenditures and income on the preceding December 31, or if the county is on an optional fiscal year basis pursuant to RSA 31:94-a, prior the fifteenth day of August a statement of the condition of the county treasury depicting expenditures and income on the preceding June 30.

Source. RS 23:1. CS 24:1. GS 22:4. 1872, 43:3. GL 23:7, 8. 1889, 62:2, 3. PS 24:6. PL 35:11. 1931, 18:1. 1941, 3:1. RL 44:13. 1947, 142:1. RSA 24:21. 1961, 202:1. 1967, 306:1. 1973, 136:1. 1975, 136:1. 1995, 134:10, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:21-a

    24:21-a Budget Estimates. –
I. Except as provided in paragraph II, the county commissioners shall deliver or mail to each member of the county convention who will be in office on the date that appropriations are voted and to the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town and the mayor of each city within the county and to the secretary of state prior to December 1 annually their itemized recommendations of the sums necessary to be raised for the county in the year next ensuing, stating therein in detail the objects for which the money is required, together with a statement of actual expenditures and income for at least 9 months of the preceding calendar year. All moneys to be appropriated by the county must be stipulated in the budget on a "gross" basis, showing revenues from all sources, including grants, gifts, bequests and bond issues, as offsetting revenues to appropriations affected.
II. If the county is on an optional fiscal year basis pursuant to RSA 31:94-a, the recommendations together with a statement of actual expenditures and income for at least 9 months of the preceding fiscal year shall be mailed or delivered prior to June 1 annually and the delivery or mailing to the members of the county convention shall be made to those members in office on the date of the delivery or mailing.
III. No county convention shall vote appropriations for the ensuing budget period until 28 days shall have elapsed from the mailing of such recommendations. In counties which are not on an optional fiscal year basis pursuant to RSA 31:94-a, appropriations for the first year of each biennium may not be voted until after the first meeting of the county convention under RSA 24:9-a.

Source. 1975, 136:2. 1977, 377:2. 1995, 134:10, eff. May 24, 1995.

Section 24:21-b

    24:21-b Strafford County. –
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary regarding the date for submitting budget estimates, the following procedures shall apply in Strafford county:
I. The county commissioners shall, annually prior to January 15, deliver or mail to each member of the county convention who will be in office on the date that appropriations are voted, and to the chairperson of the board of selectmen in each town, and the mayor of each city within the county, and to the secretary of state, their itemized recommendations of the sums necessary to be raised for the county in the following fiscal year. Such recommendations shall state in detail the objects for which the money is required, together with a statement of actual expenditures and income for at least 9 months of the preceding calendar year. All moneys to be appropriated by the county must be stipulated in the budget on a "gross" basis, showing revenues from all sources, including grants, gifts, bequests and bond issues, as offsetting revenues to appropriations affected.
II. The county convention shall not vote any appropriations for the following budget period until 28 days after the mailing of the recommendations required in paragraph I. Appropriations for the first year of each biennium may not be voted until after the first meeting of the county convention under RSA 24:9-a.

Source. 1981, 283:1. 1992, 14:1. 1995, 134:11, eff. May 24, 1995. 2017, 191:3, eff. Jan. 31, 2018.

Section 24:22

    24:22 Form. – The form of the budget statement submitted by the county commissioners shall be as prescribed by the commissioner of revenue administration.

Source. 1947, 142:2. RSA 24:22. 1973, 544:8, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.

Section 24:23

    24:23 Public Hearing. – Not earlier than 5 nor later than 20 days after the mailing of the commissioners' statement there shall be held within the county at such time and place as the chairperson of the county convention may specify, a public hearing on the budget estimates as submitted by the commissioners. Notice of such public hearing shall be submitted by the clerk of the county convention, with a summary of the budget as submitted, for publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 3 days prior to the date of said hearing.

Source. 1947, 142:2. RSA 24:23. 1961, 202:2. 1995, 134:12, eff. May 24, 1995. 2011, 112:1, eff. July 30, 2011.

Section 24:24

    24:24 Filing. – The final form of the county budget and the final form of all supplemental county appropriations adopted in accordance with RSA 24:14-a shall be filed with the secretary of state's office and the commissioner of revenue administration in accordance with the timeframes established in RSA 21-J:34, XII and XIV. Prior to said filing, the budget or supplemental appropriation shall be signed by the chairperson and clerk of the county convention.

Source. 1973, 511:1. 1977, 162:3. 1995, 134:12, eff. May 24, 1995. 2008, 174:4, eff. Aug. 10, 2008.

Section 24:25

    24:25 Penalty. – Failure to comply with the requirements of RSA 24:21-24 shall constitute prima facie evidence of a violation of RSA 643:1.

Source. 1973, 511:1, eff. Nov. 1, 1973.

Performance Audits

Section 24:26

    24:26 Repealed by 2019, 191:4, eff. Sept. 8, 2019. –