CP Civics - Municipal Governments Vocab

annual town report

Compilation of reports from each town department and all boards and committees to disclose important events and statistics from the past year and contains the warrant for the next fiscal year.

city

A local form of government in New England using indirect democracy as a means of governing.

cul-de-sac

A road with houses that ends with a circular turn around; a dead end.

municipality

Local government.

town

A local form of government in New England using direct democracy as a means of governing.

ward/precinct

Subdivision of a municipality.

Woodmont Commons Development

A private development planned and approved for the town of Londonderry, creating a 'village area'.

workforce housing

Homes built priced within the range of affordability for individuals and families with lower income.

annual town meeting

Yearly meeting where town voters can discuss and vote to approve major decisions for the town, usually budget issues.

assessed value

The value the government places on a piece of property, usually what it would cost to buy it.

board of selectmen

A local form of New England town government similar to a town council.

citizens’ petition (article-by-petition)

An article on the warrant proposed by the voters, following state regulations.

city council

Elected officials who govern a city, with powers including creating city ordinances and hiring local government employees.

direct democracy

A form of government where voters vote on major decisions rather than electing officials.

indirect democracy

A form of government where voters elect officials to make major decisions.

mayor

An individual elected to oversee the daily operations of a city government.

mixed-use zoning

Zoning that allows a property to be used for a variety of developments.

moderator

Elected official who facilitates annual town or school district meetings.

non-public/executive session

Portions of municipal and school district meetings that are not open to the public.

ordinance

A town or city law.

Planned Unit Development (PUD)

A special zoning ordinance that allows unique use proposals to the Planning Board for approval.

SB-2 Style Annual Town Meeting

Yearly meeting where town voters discuss and vote on town warrant articles at two separate sessions.

town charter

Constitution for a town.

town council

Elected officials who oversee the governing of a town.

town council meeting

Public gatherings where the town council conducts their business.

town warrant

Official document presenting voters a list of requests for approval.

town warrant article

Individual items on the warrant that require a simple majority of voters to pass.

traditional annual town meeting

Yearly meeting where voters discuss and vote on major decisions at the same session.

variance

Request to the town government to make an exception to a zoning ordinance.

zoning ordinance

A town law regulating types of development and use of property.

bond article

An article on a warrant that requires a super majority of voters to pass.

Budget Committee

Elected officials who recommend to voters whether to support each warrant article.

Capital Improvement Plan

Report of recommendations from the Capital Improvement Planning Committee covering a span of ten years.

Capital Improvement Planning Committee

Officials who recommend future costly projects for the municipality.

expenditure (appropriation)

Money being spent by government.

fiscal year

Budgetary year for which monies are collected and allocated by a municipality.

operating budget

Annual budget covering day-to-day expenses.

property tax

Revenue generated for the government by taxing property owners.

property tax rate

The rate at which a property is taxed per $1000 of value.

revenue

Money taken in by government usually in the form of taxes and fees.

tax negative

A development or project that generates less income than it costs in municipal services.

tax positive

A development or project that generates more income than it costs in municipal services.

Master Plan

A vision for the future growth of the municipality crafted from resident feedback.

Planning Board

Appointed board overseeing development and future changes to a town.