§ 45-10-16 - Advisory council on municipal finances. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 45-10-16

   § 45-10-16  Advisory council on municipalfinances. – (a) In order to strengthen the fiscal accountability of cities, towns andmunicipalities in Rhode Island an advisory council on municipal finances ishereby formed. The council is composed of five (5) members as follows:

   (1) The auditor general of the state of Rhode Island or hisor her designee;

   (2) The executive director of the Rhode Island League ofCities and Ttowns or his or her designee;

   (3) The executive director of the Rhode Island League ofCities and Towns shall appoint a representative of the Government FinanceOfficers Association;

   (4) The director of the department of revenue or his or herdesignee;

   (5) The state controller or his or her designee.

   The auditor general or his or her designee shall serve aschair of the council.

   (b) The council shall develop recommendations for a uniformsystem of accounting, including a chart of accounts for all cities, towns andmunicipalities. These recommendations shall take into consideration the work ofthe advisory council on school finances pursuant to the requirements of §16-2-9.3. The council shall recommend changes in accounting procedures to beadopted by cities, towns and municipalities. In addition, the council shallapprise municipal business officials, city and town councils, and othermunicipal leaders about sound fiscal practices and current state and federalrules and regulations regarding municipal finance. All recommendations of thecouncil shall be advisory in nature.

   (c) The council shall meet at least one time each year. Thecouncil shall report its activities and recommendations to the chairs of thehouse and senate committees on finance, the senate committee on housing andmunicipal government, the house committee on municipal government, and theoffice of the governor. The council's initial recommendations shall besubmitted by July 1, 2009.