B. Budget sessions.

Budget sessions are presumptively open unless they fall within the statutory exceptions in the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Under the Act, the definition of "meeting" includes: "The prearranged gathering of a quorum of a governmental body . . . during which the body . . . is authorized, either by law or otherwise, to exercise the powers which it possesses or approve the expenditure of public funds." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6) (Supp. 2005). Also, a number of statutes contain an explicit requirement that money cannot be appropriated for any purpose except at an open meeting. See, e.g. Ala. Code §§ 11-44-31, -87, -136 (1989).