Gov. Charlie Baker on June 26 signed a $5.25 billion interim budget for fiscal 2021 that will allow the state to pay its bills beginning on July 1 in the absence of a final appropriations bill.

The interim state budget law will fund municipal and school aid payments based on fiscal 2020 Cherry Sheet estimates for the month of July, unless a final state budget is approved. The Division of Local Services issued a bulletin that outlines local aid rules under the interim budget (Bul-2020-09, linked below).

The interim budget law includes language to carry forward unspent fiscal 2020 state capital balances that are set to expire at the end of fiscal year.

Normally, the House and Senate would have completed action on their respective versions of a spending plan by now and would be working out differences in hopes of getting a final bill to the governor by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. The state budget will be substantially delayed this year, however, because of continuing revenue uncertainty due the coronavirus recession and the wait for possible federal action to help state and local governments weather the storm, as happened during the last recession

The link should allow you to watch annual Town Meeting of Phillipston, MA from June 29, 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dOhFRU12M

On a Monday, June 29, 2020:

PHILLIPSTON — The process took a little longer than usual this year, but the town now has a budget, after Town Meeting was delayed from its original May 6 date.

Town voters — 57 of the town’s 1,252 registered voters — attended Town Meeting on Monday, June 29, in the Phillipston Elementary School Gymnasium.

“There was some minor adjustment to wording on articles,” Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Flynn said.

And financial officials kept their pencils sharp, even recessing to tweak numbers as modifications were made. “The meeting went well. Our Finance Committee did a wonderful job,” Town Clerk Karin Foley said.

Many were small changes, Flynn said. But the biggest was a change to the Narragansett Regional School District budget, which was originally slated to be a $1.6 million item. That resulted in a long discussion on the school budget, Flynn said.

The final figure was $1 million even, he said, reflecting a reduced assessment from the district.

The one million dollar figure is less than the Town's minimum required contribution and will most likely lead to a district wide meeting. If that happens, Templeton voters need to show up and have a real say in their school assessment, as Templeton Town Meeting already approve their school assessment.