The budget has always been transparent. Unfortunately, this year we got the school department budget on the day for passing the city budget. I believe all councilors were not happy with this last minute process. But, with the school committee knowing of this last minute situation and not attending the city council meeting, the feeling was strongly stated by the council not to come back before the council if their budget fell short. Since the law only allows a council to cut and not add, the vote was dictated.
