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(3-23-26 Document #6) General Law - Part I, Title VII, Chapter 44, Section 53F1_2
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3/12/26, 3:08 PM General Law - Part I, Title VII, Chapter 44, Section 53F1/2
Part I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
Title VII CITIES, TOWNS AND DISTRICTS
Chapter 44 MUNICIPAL FINANCE
Section 53F1/2 ENTERPRISE FUNDS
Section 53F1/2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-three or any other provision of law to the
contrary, a city or town which accepts the provisions of this section may establish a separate account classified
as an ''Enterprise Fund'', for a utility, school transportation service, cable television public access, health care,
recreational or transportation facility, and its operation, as the city or town may designate, hereinafter referred
to as the enterprise. Such account shall be maintained by the treasurer, and all receipts, revenues and funds
from any source derived from all activities of the enterprise shall be deposited in such separate account. The
treasurer may invest the funds in such separate account in the manner authorized by sections fifty-five and
fifty-five A of chapter forty-four. Any interest earned thereon shall be credited to and become part of such
separate account. The books and records of the enterprise shall be maintained in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and in accordance with the requirements of section thirty-eight.
No later than one hundred and twenty days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, an estimate of the
income for the ensuing fiscal year and a proposed line item budget of the enterprise shall be submitted to the
mayor, board of selectmen or other executive authority of the city or town by the appropriate local entity
responsible for operations of the enterprise; provided, that for a school transportation service the appropriate
local entity shall be the school committee. Said board, mayor or other executive authority shall submit its
recommendation to the town meeting, town council or city council, as the case may be, which shall act upon
the budget in the same manner as all other budgets.
The city or town shall include in its tax levy for the fiscal year the amount appropriated for the total expenses
of the enterprise and an estimate of the income to be derived by the operations of the enterprise. If the
estimated income is less than the total appropriation, the difference shall be added to the tax levy and raised by
taxation. If the estimated income is more than the total appropriation, the excess shall be appropriated to a
separate reserve fund and used for capital expenditures of the enterprise, subject to appropriation, or to reduce
user charges if authorized by the appropriate entity responsible for operations of the enterprise. If during a
fiscal year the enterprise incurs a loss, such loss shall be included in the succeeding fiscal year's budget.
If during a fiscal year the enterprise produces a surplus, such surplus shall be kept in such separate reserve
fund and used for the purposes provided therefor in this section.
For the purposes of this section, acceptance in a city shall be by vote of the city council and approval of the
mayor, in a town, by vote of a special or annual town meeting and in any other municipality by vote of the
legislative body.
A city or town which has accepted the provisions of this section with respect to a designated enterprise may,
in like manner, revoke its acceptance.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter44/Section53F1~2 1/3