Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law or charter provision to the contrary, the town of Webster is authorized to expend funds in the absence of an appropriation for a period commencing on July 1, 1997 and ending on September 30, 1997. Expenditures made under authority of this act shall be authorized by the board of selectmen of said town with the approval of the director of accounts in the department of revenue.

SECTION 2. Pursuant to section 1, during each calendar month, the town may expend no more than one-twelfth of its budget for the preceding fiscal year.

SECTION 3. The spending authority under this act shall expire at such time as the annual budget for fiscal year 1998, as adopted and approved by the town meeting, shall become effective.

SECTION 4. To the extent that the director of accounts authorizes spending pursuant to the provisions of section 31 of chapter 44 of the General Laws in the town of Webster during the period from July 1, 1997 to the effective date of this act, such authorizations are hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.