Budget season is upon us and as Wareham heads into it with a $1 million deficit, local officials are hoping to meet soon in order to sort out the details of the 2015 budget.

At its Tuesday, November 5, meeting the Board of Selectmen set a date of November 16, at 8:30 a.m. to meet with the School Committee and the Finance Committee to have a joint meeting.

"We know that we're looking at a $1 million shortfall before we start," said Selectman Alan Slavin.

The School Department budget isn't due until mid January, and without knowing how much the school budget will be it's difficult to determine where the town budget stands as a whole.

"We said the day after Town Meeting, June 19, we would start discussing it and we haven't," Slavin said.

An initial suggestion to hold a joint meeting on December 7 was shot down.

"If Mr. Sullivan has to have his budget on December 15, December 7 is ridiculous," said Selectmen Judy Whiteside.

After it was pointed out that there are so many members on the three committees combined that attendance may be an issue, Selectman Steve Holmes said "We'll just set the dates and see who shows up," to the meetings.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan noted that the fact that the school department budget, which is part of the overall town budget, does not have to be in until about a month after he submits the town budget presents some challenges.

"It means the December 15 budget, which requires we have a balanced budget, is an artificial budget with placeholders," Sullivan said.

He attributed this scheduling quirk to a "defect in the charter."

Sullivan also pointed out that the amount of aid the town will be receiving from the state and federal governments isn't completely nailed down until spring, making the task of putting together a budget even tougher.

Regardless of the obstacles, a budget has to be submitted by December 15, and Wareham is facing a shortfall.

"We do have  a structural deficit," Sullivan said. "Every year going forward without new revenue," the town will be faced with a deficit.