The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday discussed meeting with the School Committee and the Finance Committee prior to Town Meeting, in order to resolve budgetary issues that could end up costing Wareham more money in the form of a Special Town Meeting.

Despite making more than $951,000 in cuts to its budget, the School Committee plans to head into Town Meeting with an unbalanced budget. (For that story, click here.)

"We're going into Town Meeting with two competing budgets," said newly-appointed Chair Peter Teitelbaum.

Town Meeting begins April 22, and if an unbalanced budget is passed, Wareham will need to hold a Special Town Meeting in order to correct it, and ensure that the town's tax rate can be set by the the December 31 deadline.

"I don't know why we're waiting until the last second" to meet with other town committees to resolve this issue, said recently-elected Selectman Patrick Tropeano.

Teitelbaum pointed out that until last week, the board did not know the exact budget the School Committee would be bringing to the Town Meeting floor.

"I will try to get a joint meeting with them as soon as possible," said Teitelbaum.

With Town Meeting less than two weeks away, time is of the essence.

Newly-elected Selectman, and former Wareham High School teacher, Judy Whiteside pointed out that having an adversarial relationship with the School Committee would benefit nobody.

"I do not believe it's a 'we versus them' issue," said Whiteside. "I think it's incumbent upon the board to do what the chairman suggests."

Selectman Alan Slavin pointed out that there are issues at hand that have been simmering for quite some time.

"We can't solve this in a week," said Slavin. "It's been building for 20-plus years."

On the town side, there is an approximately $914,000 gap in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

In other budget issues, Selectman Alan Slavin suggested that the board advise Town Administrator Derek Sullivan to institute a "freeze" on certain expenses this fiscal year (fiscal year 2013), which ends in June. Town officials are concerned that the town may exceed its tax levy.

According to Sullivan, this would mean that the town would stop paying for anything that it is not contractually obligated to pay for, such as office supplies.

Slavin pointed out that the board can only advise, not demand, that Sullivan do so, but said he believes it's the prudent thing to do in light of the budget issues.

"Today's the day we have to take up our responsibilities," said Slavin.