5th Joint Budget Listening Session held with remote participation option on Saturday, March 8 (audio)

FM #1400 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1400 in the series. 

This session shares the Joint Budget Listening Session held Saturday, March 8, 2025 Council Chambers. 8 of the 10 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.

Brief statements by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Superintendent Lucas Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. More than 14 folks stepped up to comment or ask a question, some multiple questions. Felicia Oti, Library Director spoke to the work being done by the Library.

Link to the Town page with the budget materials for both Town and School sides

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500 

As of today, $3.8M short, got a slight update with the preview of the preliminary budget being presented to the Town Council Wednesday, March 5.

The recording runs about 2 hours 7 minutes , so let’s listen in. Audio link ->

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1400-joint-budget-subcmte-listening-session-5-03-08-25/

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Franklin TV video for viewing -> https://www.youtube.com/live/LlUDdpZqkNg?&t=13 

My notes captured during the session

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBaFVj9_9K0Rj1z23CGl2--vaO0QsoIn/view?usp=drive_link 

Updated FY 2026 budget document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4593/2025-03-05-Town-Council-Preliminary-Budget-Presentation-v2 

Citizen discounts and exemptions -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4418/Local-and-State-Assistance-Programs-PDF 

You can find the collection of video, audio, and transcripts for the prior sessions here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html 

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The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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5th Joint Budget Listening Session held with remote participation option on Saturday, March 8 (audio)