The Board of Finance (also called Budget Committee, Finance Committee and Ways and Means Committee in different parts of This article is about the region in the United States of America. For other uses, see New England (disambiguation). Modern New England, the six northeastern-most states of the United States, indicated by red The New England region of the United States is located in the northeastern corner of the... New England) is an elected or appointed body that reviews town or school government budgets in A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. As with cities, there is no standard universal definition of a town: the criterion in use in any country is likely to arise... towns or school districts that have the Town meeting is a form of local government commonly practiced in the U.S. region of New England, but uncommon elsewhere in the United States. Despite the name town, it can also apply to other governmental bodies, usually school districts. While the uses and laws vary from state to state... town meeting form of government.

Its role is to act as a balance against the A Board of Selectmen is a common executive arm of a towns government in New England. The board may be comprised of three or five members with staggered terms. Boards of Selectmen were the child of necessity. When small towns grew too large for their people to run them... Board of Selectmen or School Board, which set the budget and present it to the public at town meeting. Typically the Board of Finance is more cost-conscious that the governing body of the community - that is, it prefers smaller budgets. Whether it is appointed or elected, and whether it is merely advisory or has authority over the budget, depends on both state and local laws.

In many towns, the budget is split between general government, administered by the Board of Selectmen and the School Districts are a form of Special-purpose district in the United States which serves to operate the local public primary, middle, and secondary schools. Public education in many communities in the USA has been made the function of a school district serving one or more towns. A school district... school district administered by the Board of education is the typical styling of the title in the United States of the board of directors of a local school district and generallly the statewide organization responsible for the oversight of such local boards as well. Boards of education are usually elected by residents of the school... Board of Education. Typically, the school district is coterminous with the town, however some smaller towns have merged their school districts with surrounding towns creating "regional" ( State nickname: The Constitution State Other U.S. States Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Governor M. Jodi Rell Official languages English Area 14,371 km² (48th)  - Land 12,559 km²  - Water 1,809 km² (12.6%) Population ( 2000)  - Population 3,405,565... Connecticut, State nickname: Bay State Other U.S. States Capital Boston Largest city Boston Governor Mitt Romney Official languages English Area 27,360 km² (44th)  - Land 20,317 km²  - Water 7,043 km² (25.7%) Population (2000)  - Population 6,349,097 (13th)  - Density 312.68... Massachusetts, State nickname: The Granite State Other U.S. States Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Governor John Lynch Official languages English Area 24,239 km² (46th)  - Land 23,249 km²  - Water 814 km² (3.4%) Population ( 2000)  - Population 1,235,786 (41st)  ... New Hampshire) or "unified" ( This article is about the U.S. state. For other meanings, see Vermont (disambiguation). State nickname: The Green Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Governor Jim Douglas Official languages None Area 24,923 km² (45th)  - Land 23,974 km²  - Water 949... Vermont) school districts. School districts in New England do not have separate taxation powers, and must receive their revenues from member towns.

Typically, after the Board of Selectmen or School Board review their respective budgets, they are submitted to the Board of Finance for review. The Board of Finance may return the budget to the respective bodies with requests for changes, or may refer it to the town meeting for approval.

Outside the budget process, the Board of Finance performs financial oversight duties on behalf of the town.