According to today's ProJo, the initial Caruolo hearing yesterday resulted in a rebuff to Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, Inc. The judge denied their motion to join the suit, but he did allow them to file a "friend of the court" brief to be sure that all taxpayers' opinions are fairly represented.

Also reported was the PCC's pre-hearing brief, which said, in part:

In written arguments filed by Wigand and Kyle prior to yesterday’s hearing, the citizens’ group said it suspects the School Committee of filing the lawsuit as a means of “subterfuge” to “override the results of the special Financial Town Meeting and increase its baseline budget for future years.” – via Projo

So this has nothing to do with the acknowledged fact that the Tent Meeting underfunded the schools. It's subterfuge. I see.