Section 1.            The charter of the town of Groton, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the general laws, is hereby amended by striking out section 6.4.1 and inserting in place thereof the following:

6.4.1 Budget Process - The Select Board, the town manager, the department of finance, and the finance committee shall meet annually not later than October 31 to determine the budgetary goals for the subsequent fiscal year. The town manager shall, after that meeting but not later than January 31, submit to the finance committee and the Select Board a proposed budget for the next fiscal year that shall be

accompanied by a budget message, a summary, and supporting documents that follow the agreed-upon budget goals. The proposed budget shall be balanced.

Section 2.            This act shall take effect upon its passage.

provided, however, that the General Court may make clerical or editorial changes of form only to the bill, unless the Select Board approves amendments thereto before enactment by the General Court, which amendments shall be within the public purposes of said petition; or to take any other action relative thereto.