A new joint Fiscal Communications Committee between town government and the school district will look to save taxpayer money by coordinating expenses.

Council Chairman Mike Izbicki said the committee would look at potential increases in the budget and ways of saving costs together, such as buying fuel for the town and school district at the same time.

“It’s communications between the boards and also communication to the public,” Izbicki said.

“We’re trying to let people know that, ‘Hey, this is what we’re thinking. This is what the school is thinking,’” he said.

The Town Council, the School Board and their respective financial departments will keep in touch on a regular basis, but council Vice Chairman Bob Young said the process should be more formal.

“I thought it would be much better that the Town Council and the School Board have formal interactions through the budgeting process so they could at least be aware of any upcoming financial issues that might be going on in either of the boards,” Young said. “We all go back to the same taxpayer, so I thought it would behoove us.”

The town and school financial directors, superintendent, town manager and two members each from the School Board and Town Council would sit on the committee.

The group would not take any votes or have any power over the Town Council and School Board. Their meetings, at least two to three a year, would be open to the public, but not televised.

The School Board weighed the proposal at its Monday, June 16, meeting. Chairman David Sacks said the board supported the intent of the committee, but wanted to change the wording of its mission so it’s clear the purpose is communications and not anything else.

Izbicki said the council would have to reapprove the committee with the new wording.