"Capital projects like the senior center did not put the town in debt"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 27, 2009 @ 12:22 AM

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FRANKLIN —

In one of its final tweakings of a long-term financial plan and report for the town, the Fiscal Planning Committee decided its wants to stress that the recession is not responsible for Franklin's recurring deficit.

"We have a crisis trend, a recurring fiscal deficit ... and it's been exacerbated by the macro-fiscal crisis," said Councilor Shannon Zollo.

The committee should give one set of recommendations for dealing with the current crisis in the short term, and another set for ending the structural deficit, Zollo suggested.

Echoing Zollo's sentiments, Vice Chairman Doug Hardesty said, "The fundamental message is, with or without this economic crisis, this problem exists in Franklin."

Committee members agreed that they do not want people to have a misperception that the recent salary freezes agreed to by town unions solves the structural deficit problem.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Financial Plng Comm 03/26/09

The live reporting from the Financial Planning Committee meeting held 3/26/98

• Live reporting - Financial Plng cont'd
• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 3/26...

Live reporting - Financial Plng cont'd

let's get to the "what we can do about this"

• If we don't provide funding, the quality of education and services will go down.
• We would need to look the inherent cost structure of salaries and benefits.
• We would need to look at the unfunded mandates.

It is not like they unfunded mandates are frivolous, there needs to be some State/Federal funding for those mandates.

One point was to prove that we have been fiscally responsible. It has been done, the recent bond rating proves that point as well. We should continue to manage in the fiscally conservative manner as we have done.

Should add "reduction in property value" as a bullet? This is a big fear of a lot of folks.

the compensation package for employees needs to be sustainable as well as competitive

discussion on splitting the focus group into two, one group comes at 7:00 and one comes at 8:00.
April 2 -

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 3/26/09

Attending: Ogden, Zollo, Kelly, Hardesty, Bartlett, Trahan, Cameron
Missing: Whalen, Nutting, Roche, Wilschek

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Note: I am joining meeting late as I was participating in the Steering Committee for the School District Strategic Planning process. I'll catch up to the earlier points when I have had a chance to listen to my recording.
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Reviewing the current deck and providing feedback on the contents and positioning of the slides

There needs to be an explanation of the difference between operational and capital dollars.

"its report would be totally transparent, objective and accurate"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 13, 2009 @ 12:22 AM

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FRANKLIN —

The longterm fiscal planning committee is nearly ready to present its multi-year financial projections, and is aiming for an audience of hundreds at an April 27 presentation at Horace Mann Middle School.

"I feel a hugely important objective is education, to inform the public as to why we're under (financial) pressure on a yearly basis," said Councilor Stephen Whalen.

As part of its efforts to dispel some misconceptions, the group last night emphasized the importance of making the town's finances understandable.

For instance, while reviewing Franklin's relatively low per-pupil spending, which is $2,700 below the state average, members commented that many residents don't realize the value they get for their educational dollar.

"There are so many people in town who think this town wastes money and is poorly run, but there is no evidence" to support that, Whalen said.

Read the full article from the Financial Planning Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here

Financial Plng Comm 03/12/09

The live reporting for the Financial Planning Committee meeting on March 12, 2009 can be found here:

• Live reporting - Financial Plng Comm - cont'd
• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Live reporting - Financial Plng Comm - cont'd

Data integrity checks; keeping the original sources marked and separate to come back to when the deck is complete

always took the conservative number and one that could be reasonably justified

bulk of employment has gone down from the schools but the school population has still increased

the town employment side has lost employment while the number of roads, houses, population has all increased

there are a lot of interesting things that aren't going to make the cut

one of the key values of the chart showing the overall per pupil cost in comparison to other relative communities, is that we are not overspending

The state aid will be a variable within a range, what reasonable conclusions can we draw about the possible ranges for state aid? Could it be flat, sure. When will the recovery occur? Anyone's guess but when it does come back, all the revenue streams, income tax, excise tax, etc. will increase and help.

The best guess is the most conservative, flat next year, and modest increases thereafter.

It could go below flat if we don't get a recovery for 2011

Next meeting: March 26th
Focus group: April 2nd

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Attending: Cameron, Hardesty, Whalen, Bartlett, Nutting, Zollo, Wilschek
Absent: Kelly, Trahan, Roche, Ogden,

Discussion on override history added to one table but while the numbers are not completely accurate, even if it were, it doesn't add much of relevance to the discussion.

Some handouts for review, not all the package was reprinted.

Objectives for tonight:

• revisit the assumptions from last week's draft
• objectivity of the process
• ensure accuracy of the data and report

discussion on relevance of data that is directly from the DOR Franklin at a Glance section

Financial Plng Comm 03/05/09

The collection of live reporting for the Financial Planning Committee meeting on 3/5/09:

• Live reporting - FPC continued
• Live reporting - Financial Planning (continued)
• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Live reporting - FPC continued

Teacher compensation needs to be understood to develop the assumptions. A percent makes a difference when the schools account for 33% of the overall budget.

Big discussion on how to present the data to create the proper conversation.

Jeff will look at the revenue and expense assumptions to see if there would be any changes.
The assumptions will be critical as these numbers will be what will drive the model.

Meeting next week on the 12th

Doug will update the changes and we'll pick up from there.

Live reporting - Financial Planning (continued)

When doing the benchmarks with other communities, need to define why which towns are used for which categories. For school comparisons, the number of students needs to be similar. When you get to Police, Fire, and DPW, they get problematic as they are not an apples to apples comparison.

Discussion on the teacher salary percent increases, mixing the cost of living and the step/lane changes is confusing, need to be more clear.

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee

Attending: Roche, Cameron, Hardesty, Ogden, Trahan, Whalen, Wilschek (late), Bartlett (late), Nutting (late)
Absent: Kelly, Zollo,

Review of Steve Whalen's charts/tables. He updated the numbers he has prepared for the past two years. He has two new charts, one that shows Franklin is third from the bottom in percent of revenue from property taxes (~46%). Another shows Franklin at the top of the listing in terms of the percent of revenue from the state (~30%)

Need to look at the past history across the state for operational vs. debt override results, what does that show, would be good to have.

Reviewing the draft compiled by Doug Hardesty: Working through the draft, page by page, looking carefully for the wording and what it conveys to try and get the message tight and accurate.

"You'd have to change the marketplace"

FRANKLIN —

In continuing discussions about presenting a three-year fiscal plan for the town, the Financial Planning Committee last night generally agreed that without some kind of structural change the town's expenses will outpace its revenue indefinitely.

Most towns in the state are contending with the same problem, even affluent communities such as Newton, said Town Councilor Shannon Zollo, who is also a planning committee member.

"Our budget goes up a lot more than 2.5 percent every year, it's more in the 4 or 5 percent range," said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Financial Planning Committee minutes 2/5/09

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
FEBRUARY 5, 2009

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.

Members present were: Deborah Bartlett, James Roche, Matt Kelly, Roberta Trahan, Rebecca Cameron, Doug Hardesty and Gwynne Wilschek. Also present were Jeffrey Nutting and Wayne Odgen. Absent were Steve Whalen and Shannon Zollo.

The Committee reviewed reports to date. Matt Kelly handed out a sample of FAQ's for review. Deborah Bartlett and Roberta Trahan submitted their information to Doug Hardesty. Jim Roche handed out a draft of his work; Jeff Nutting continues to work with Rebecca on the assumptions. Members should submit changes, improvements etc. to Doug Hardesty in the next 10 days so it will be ready for the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey Nutting

Financial Planning Committee minutes 1/15/09

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
January 15, 2009

A meeting of the Financial Planning Committee was held on January 15, 2009 at the Franklin Municipal Building. Members present were Deborah Bartlett, Shannon Zollo, Roberta Trahan, Jim Roche, Rebecca Cameron and Doug Hardesty, Matt Kelly & Gwynne Wilschek. Also present was Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator and Wayne Odgen, School Superintendent. Absent was Steve Whalen.

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.

The Chairman Jim Roche asked that each subcommittee report on the progress of their assignment. The members reviewed their work to date and the Committee discussed the work and suggested a format for a final product by each subgroup.

Doug Hardesty requested that all work at the individual level be completed in two weeks and forwarded to him so he could collate the information.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2009

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey D. Nutting

Financial Planning Committee minutes 12/18/08

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 18, 2008

A meeting of the Financial Planning Committee was held on December 18, 2008 at the Franklin Municipal Building. Members present were Deborah Bartlett, Shannon Zollo, Roberta Trahan, Rebecca Cameron, Doug Hardesty and Gwynne Wilschek. Also present were Jeffrey Nutting and Wayne Odgen. Absent were Steve Whalen, Matt Kelly and Jim Roche.

The Town Administrator handed out information on the comparison of the FY01 to FY09 budgets, a list of all things all departments have done over the last many years to reduce staff, cut costs, improve efficiencies, receive grants, etc., as well as a list of legislative priority items the Massachusetts Municipal Association and others are hoping the Legislature will consider in order to control costs.

Doug Hardesty asked what the Committee thought should be included in the report. Deb Bartlett suggested an executive summary, budget information, fiscal policies, history of capital, school mandates, costs beyond the control of the Town, services we must perform and how citizens might help. Other suggestions were bulletin points, graphs and charts, but keeping the summary to a few pages, as well as information on population, students, staffing etc. Doug offered to try a "straw man" draft of the format and then committee members would need to do some work to fill in the information.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey Nutting

Financial Plng Comm 02/19/09

The live reporting from the Financial Planning committee meeting of 2/19/09 can be found here

• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee (con...
• Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 2/19...

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee (continued)

Executive summary, page 2.

In 1995, the town paid 71% of the school budget, we are now down to 50%.

The idea behind the plan is a call to action. These trends will continue unless action is taken.

If we eliminate services, we can address costs.

If we are too general here, they might miss the point. I think we do need to get an example in their.

March 5th for the trial preview is not likely. We have spent time just on the 3 page executive summary.

You don't have to rush to March 5th. What we have before us will not likely change. The train has already left the station.

Getting this done by April 1st should be our goal.

Need to provide the option. The citizens are either going to vote for or against but there is a choice that the citizens need to make.

Jeff is ready to send the soft copy of all the data accumulated to date.

We will be meeting March 5th. No preview for focus group.
March 19th is the FEF Trivia Bee.
Considering the 12th or 26th? Meet on the 12th.

April 2nd? can that be the focus group? yes

Keep the 26th for a meeting.

April 15th joint meeting of Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee

TBD - Horace Mann for town wide discussion. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
(updated 2/24/09 - the date had been tentatively planned for 4/29/09 but that day has a prior commitment)

We are gaining momentum as the material comes together.

Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 2/19/09

Attending: Roche, Bartlett, Cameron, Hardesty, Nutting, Trahan, Whalen, Zollo, Wilschek (late)
Absent: Kelly, Ogden

Accepted minutes of Dec 18, Jan 15, Feb 5.

Discussion on the executive summary draft
Need to be consistent with numbers used. The State DOE calculates slightly differently. They include the enterprise accounts.
Include a glossary of terms in the appendix so everyone can have and use the same terms in the same way.

Doesn't want to use any term in the executive summary that would be required to be defined in the glossary.

Discussion on raising issues

Newton did their study; Harvard professors spent six months reviewing the finances and determined that the current process was not sustainable.

There are 2 or 3 budget busters that should not be a surprise; wages, health costs, SPED costs (including transportation).

Need to be accurate and unbiased on the data presentation.

We can get to the other infrastructure items over time. We will have capacity to borrow some 3 million. We won't be able to do the high school without a debt exclusion for sure, but overtime we can get to the other infrastructure items. Recall, this year's total capital budget was 8 million in requests of which we are proceeding with 1.3 million.

At some point, specifically with the roads, we are to a point where we need to do something in addition to the way we are tackling the roads today.

"What is the town is doing to control costs?"

I had a choice last night: Attend the WASTED panel discussion at the High School or continue my live reporting from the Financial Planning Committee meeting. It was not an easy choice. Our teens need attention and help. But if we don't have a good explanation for what the Town is budgeting for and why, some citizens will continue to dwell on negatives forcing the Town into some serious troubles with all operations never mind taking care of our future (via our children, young and old).

My report on the meeting can be found here.

The Milford Daily News report is here:

Franklin financial questions to be answered

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

The long-range financial planning committee is still hammering away at its three-year plan for the town, and will soon be soliciting feedback on its work from a selected cross-section of residents.

The committee already has a list of 50 frequently asked questions about town finances, compiled earlier by School Committee member Matthew Kelly, but they want to be sure they thoroughly address residents' concerns.

Committee members will narrow Kelly's list to about 15, answering common inquiries or misconceptions about town financial matters, including Proposition 2 1/2 tax override questions, in a public format.

"The purpose of this is to serve as a sanity check to make sure our report is answering the questions that interested citizens are likely to have, or should have," Kelly wrote in his report.