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Committee approves Annual Operating Budget Process policy after debate over "shall" vs. "will"
Summary
The finance committee approved the Annual Operating Budget Process policy as a foundation draft. Members debated whether to use the word "shall" (stronger legal force) or "will" (flexibility); the committee accepted "will" for now and will revisit language in future edits.
The Dalton Finance Committee voted to approve the Annual Operating Budget Process policy as a foundation draft while resolving a substantive language dispute about mandatory wording.
Committee member (S2) moved approval and Committee member (S6) proposed an amendment to the policy title. During debate, Committee member (S3) argued for the stronger wording: "the word shall is appropriate," saying it more clearly documents obligations. Chair (S1) cautioned that using "shall" could create budgetary rigidity and might affect fiscal measures such as Proposition 2.5. After discussion members agreed to pass the document using "will" for now, with the option to revisit and tighten language later.
The motion to accept the policy (with the title amendment and planned editorial cleanups) was made, seconded and approved unanimously.
