An ad hoc budget committee charged with reviewing the town and School Department's fiscal year 2012 budgets officially met for the first time on Friday. It established a goal of creating a balanced budget on which all parties can reach a consensus before it hits Town Meeting floor in April.

Town officials realized the need for the committee after a public meeting held last week to discuss the school budget showed that, if that budget were fully funded, a large deficit on the town side would result. The committee will be charged with determining if any dollars can be shifted within the budgets to lessen the blow of decreasing state aid and limited financial resources on all parties involved.

The committee consists of Town Administrator Mark Andrews, Superintendent Dr. Barry Rabinovitch, Board of Selectmen members Brenda Eckstrom and Cara Winslow, School Committee members Geoff Swett and Rhonda Veugen, and Finance Committee members Donna Bronk and Frank Heath.

"What it really comes down to is that the people at the table want to work together," Heath said. The committee formed "to discuss in a small group what was impossible to discuss in a large group."

Town Accountant Elizabeth Zaleski will also participate in the meetings to provide budgetary information. She is not a voting member, however.

The committee will attempt to meet at various times at different locations, in an effort to allow residents with varying schedules to attend. It will next meet on Friday, February 4 at 10 a.m. in the Multi-Service Center second floor conference room. It will then meet on Friday, February 11 at 10 a.m. in the Wareham Middle School auditorium.