The committee may receive and disburse for the purposes of the study moneys from any source, including bequests, gifts or contributions, made by any individual, corporation or association. Each participating town shall pay a share of the expenses of the committee in an amount which is in the same proportion to the total expenses as the number of pupils in average daily membership of such town as defined in § 10-261 for the school year next prior to that in which the committee is established bears to the total number of such pupils in participating towns. The expenses of the committee in the initial two-year period shall not exceed ten dollars times the total number of pupils used in the above computation. An affirmative vote by the legislative body to join a temporary regional school study committee shall obligate the town or regional school district to pay its share of the expenses of the committee. The treasurer of the district shall pay to the committee upon demand of its treasurer any portion of such share. Subject to the approval of the State Board of Education, for the purpose of computing any state grant for school building purposes under chapter 173, any part of such moneys paid to an architect for professional services shall be applied to the total cost of any school building which may be constructed. An affirmative vote by the legislative body to extend the life of the committee pursuant to § 10-39 shall obligate the town or regional school district to pay its share of the additional expenses. The total expenses of the committee for each additional year shall not exceed one-half the limit set for the initial two-year period. Any unencumbered balance remaining in the treasury of the committee at the time such committee is dissolved shall be returned by the treasurer to the participating districts in the same proportion as their respective shares were paid to finance the expenses of the committee.