Real Time Reporting: Finance Committee - Apr 19, 2016

Reported in real time via the web broadcast on the Finance Committee meeting with the first of the FY 2017 budget hearings.

The budget hearing document (detailed budget line items likely won't be available until the Town Council hearings start in May/June.)

screen grab of the Finance Committee meeting 4/16/19

(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

The next budget hearing is scheduled for Apr 21, 2016 at 7:00 PM in the 3rd Floor Training room

"This budget should be an alarm to the community"

Reporting remotely (via the internet) on the first view of the school budget as presented at the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mar 22, 2016.

• O'Malley - "This budget should be an alarm to the community"

The video replay for this meeting can be viewed here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=338

(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

decrease of 7 teachers and 3 FTE educational assistants for FY 2017 budget (2016-2017 school year)

The budget proposal can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/fy-2017-school-budget-proposal.html


The full agenda can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-mar.html

FY 2017 - School Budget Proposal

The proposed School Budget document as being reviewed at the School Committee meeting, Mar 22, 2016.

Franklin Public Schools FY2017 Proposed Budget 20160322 from Franklin Matters

Franklin High School

The full agenda can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-mar.html

MassBudget: Tools for Understanding State Budget Proposals

MassBudget resources to use during the budget season

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Tools for Understanding State Budget Proposals  On January 27th, the Governor kicked off state budget season by releasing a detailed Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal. While the final state budget is largely crafted by the Legislature, the Governor's proposal begins an important process of determining what we as a Commonwealth hope to do together through our government, and detailing how we will pay for those things. Key subsequent steps in the process: In April, the House will debate and approve its FY 2017 budget proposal. In May, the Senate does the same. In June, a joint House/Senate conference committee will reconcile differences between these two budgets. The final budget plan, which requires the Governor's signature, will ideally be completed by July 1st, the beginning of FY 2017. Since the state budget is often the most important policy document of the year, our team at MassBudget works hard to produce the following resources for helping you stay informed and engaged in the public debate. We hope you find them useful! Budget Monitors (hyperlink in title) Shortly after each major budget release, we produce a written Budget Monitor that analyzes major proposals across a range of key areas (e.g. education, transportation, health care, revenue). As soon as they're written, we send Monitors out to our email list and post them on our website. Here is our Governor's Budget Monitor, which we released last week, and here is our FY 2017 Budget Preview, which lays out major fiscal challenges entering next year. Budget Browser Our Budget Browser, which we just updated with all of the Governor's FY 2017 spending proposals, is a user-friendly online tool where you can track all state spending back to FY 2001. You can drill down to individual programs (called line items) or look at clusters of programs that support similar activities (e.g. Child Welfare). You can adjust for inflation so that comparisons make sense over time, and you can generate your own tables and graphs. Each line item of the Browser has a "Proposals" tab, where you can compare each of the FY 2017 proposals as they are released. Children's Budget and Jobs and Workforce Budget These two web tools are similar to the Budget Browser in that they track state funding for programs in these areas--state programs related to children and state programs that support jobs and workforce training. But they go an important step further by also including written program descriptions and links to other useful resources for more detail. These tools are also updated during the budget season.                                Finally, do not hesitate to reach out directly to any of our analysts, who are the true experts behind each of these great resources. You'll find contact information and their respective research areas on our website's staff page. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MassBudget: Analyzing the Governor's FY 2017 Budget

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Analyzing the Governor's FY 2017 Budget  The Governor's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017 is best described as an austerity budget. It contains small cuts and spending reductions across government and includes few new initiatives. Our newly released Budget Monitor analyzes the budget in detail. Many of the reductions are due to the early retirement program implemented this year. Perhaps the most important question this budget raises is how those cuts will affect the quality of services provided by our government. With fewer people working at the Department of Environmental Protection (where the Governor proposes a 7 percent reduction in funding), will our state's ability to enforce the laws that keep our air and water clean be degraded? With reductions at the Department of Revenue (where this budget proposes 13 percent less funding), will it be harder for honest taxpayers to get answers from the department and will it be easier for those corporations and other sophisticated taxpayers who seek to evade taxes to avoid paying the taxes they owe? Similar issues will arise across state government, and we won't know the answers until after the budget takes effect. On the positive side, this budget proposal continues efforts to hire more social workers at the Department of Children and Families so that caseloads will decline and our front line workers can better protect children who are at risk of abuse or neglect. The proposal also funds new efforts to address the opioid addiction crisis, including an additional $9.1 million for the Department of Public Health's Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to support increased prevention and treatment efforts. The budget reduces the state's reliance on temporary revenue and makes a small deposit into the stabilization fund. But six years into an economic recovery, the budget is still being balanced with temporary revenue, including $150 million that existing law dedicates to the stabilization fund. This continues a long-term pattern we have seen since the state cut income taxes by over $3 billion between 1998 and 2002: deep cuts in recessions, barely balanced budgets in the best of times, and chronic structural budget gaps. This pattern has real world consequences: our Commonwealth has not been able to make important investments in the education and skills of our workers and in the integrity of our transportation infrastructure that could strengthen our economy in the long run. This Budget Monitor examines the Governor's FY 2017 budget proposal in the context of these long-term trends. For the full Budget Monitor, click HERE. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MA State Budget Funding History

MassBudget: An Early Take on the Governor's FY 2017 Budget

The budget season gets into full swing with the release of the Governor's budget. As Franklin is dependent upon the state for approx 30% of the revenue side of the budget, we'll continue to follow the state budget closely until it is approved later this year.

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. An Early Take on the Governor's FY 2017 Budget  Today the Governor released his Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal, kicking off an important process of determining what we as a Commonwealth hope to do together through our government this year, and detailing how we will pay for those things. While it includes some positive elements -- like strengthening the Department of Children and Families -- this proposal continues a pattern that has been in place since the state cut taxes by over $3 billion between 1998 and 2002: deep budget cuts in bad times and very little progress in good times. We continue to put off making the kinds of long-term investments in our people and our transportation systems that would make life better for Massachusetts families and improve the long-term strength of our state economy (for more context, read our FY 2017 Budget Preview). Keep an eye out later next week for our full Budget Monitor, which will analyze the Governor's proposals in much greater depth. For now, here are a few highlights. The Governor proposes: Scaling-back the Film Tax Credit, which has proven to be an inefficient strategy for creating jobs. Department of Revenue research has shown that the cost for each job created by this tax credit exceeds $100,000 a year (more detail HERE). With revenue from this change, the Governor would fund the following two initiatives (although these likely total more than the projected savings from the FTC): Expanding a corporate tax break called Single Sales Factor, costing over $60 million once fully phased-in (more detail HERE). Massachusetts has been providing this tax break to manufacturing companies, defense contractors, and mutual fund companies since the 1990s. There is no evidence that it has had a positive effect on job creation or the strength of our state economy. The Governor proposes extending this tax break to all multi-state corporations. Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, costing $25 million annually once phased-in over five years. The administration projects that this initiative would support an additional 1,500 affordable rental units. Supporting a multi-faceted approach to the opioid addiction epidemic, including targeted funding for prevention and treatment, as well as funding for law enforcement. The budget proposal directs close to $9 million more to public health programs targeting substance abuse treatment and recovery programs, and funding for an additional 150 adult residential recovery opioid treatment beds. The budget also directs funding to law enforcement agencies especially in the so-called Gateway Cities, such as Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Fitchburg, and Lynn, in order to help police disrupt the trafficking and distribution of heroin. Reducing funding for the state Department of Revenue's Office of Tax Administration by more than 15 percent. This is likely related to staff reductions connected to last year's early retirement initiative. The danger of reducing the capacity of this office is that it could significantly harm the state's ability to combat tax evasion, particularly by those with the resources to engage in complex efforts to avoid paying the taxes they owe. Increased tax evasion could reduce the revenue available to fund education, local aid, and other core government services. Supporting additional social workers in the Department of Children and Families. To decrease the caseloads of social workers so they can better meet the needs of children and families, the Governor's budget increases funding for the social workers account by $19.6 million (9.6 percent). The budget also continues the operational reforms in the area offices and increases funding for oversight and supervision. Increasing General Local Aid by 4.3 percent, tracking the rate of growth of state revenue. Even after this modest increase, local aid funding will still be about 40 percent lower than it was in FY 2001, adjusted for inflation. Changing the Charter School Reimbursement formula and providing an increase of $20.5 million. Under the Governor's redesigned formula, all sending districts would receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement in the first year of a charter tuition increase. In the second and third years after an increase in total tuition, aid would predominantly go to urban districts sending higher proportions of students to charter schools. Unlike under the current formula, no districts would receive any reimbursements in years 4 through 6. Increasing Chapter 70 Education Aid by 1.6 percent, or $72.1 million. This proposal largely runs the existing formula using updated enrollment and inflation numbers. It includes a new method of estimating the number of low-income students in each district, driven by changes to the national school meals program (more detail HERE). The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MassBudget: A Preview of the FY 2017 Budget

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. A Preview of the FY 2017 Budget   Next week the Governor will file his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017. Funding provided in our state budget can be how we improve the education we provide for our children, how we maintain our roads, bridges, subways and other critical infrastructure, and how we protect and strengthen the economic security of all of our people. But in recent years we have struggled to make these types of effective investments. A long-term pattern has plagued Massachusetts for more than a decade: deep cuts in recessions, barely balanced budgets in the best of times, and chronic structural budget gaps. Each of our last three Governors has taken office facing substantial budget gaps. And each has left office with substantial budget gaps. Why? The data provides a very clear answer: the state cut taxes by over $3 billion between 1998 and 2002 and has never been able fully to close the budget gap created by those tax cuts. The majority of the gap has been closed by annual budget cuts that have compounded over time: since FY 2001, unrestricted local aid has been cut by 43 percent, funding for higher education has been cut by 19 percent, support for environment and recreation accounts is down 28 percent, and there have been similar cuts throughout much of state government. MassBudget's A Preview of the FY 2017 Budget provides an overview of both the specific challenges facing the Commonwealth this year and troubling longer-term trends. We see that tax cuts that are reducing revenue by over $3 billion a year have undermined our capacity to make the investments in our people and communities that could make our economy more productive and our Commonwealth an even better place in which to live, work, and raise a family. To read the full Preview, click HERE. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

screen grab of MA Gov budget process webpage

For the complete step by step process of the MA budget
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/Process

Senator Spilka: Work Begins on the FY2017 Budget

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Dear Friend, On Wednesday, December 16, I joined my colleagues in the Legislature's Ways and Means Committees for the state's annual consensus revenue hearing.  As this hearing represents the first step in crafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, I'd like to take this time to provide a snapshot of where our economy stands now and the factors that our committee will look at as we consider the future. Strong Recovery Experts and economists confirm that Massachusetts continues along its steady path of economic recovery, largely due to the resiliency we built into our economy before and during the recession.  At the recession's height, from fiscal year 2009 to fiscal year 2011, Massachusetts, like other states, had to cut billions from its budget.  We were able to cut less and rebuild faster than other states, however, thanks to our fiscal management and reserves.  As a result, Massachusetts is among only 14 states with an AA+ bond rating as of spring 2014. Stabilization Fund One of the simplest ways to understand our past preparedness is to examine the Commonwealth's Stabilization Fund, also called the Rainy Day Fund. Before the recession, the Stabilization Fund balance was $2.12B.  To prevent deep cuts to important services in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, withdrawals were made to the Stabilization Fund, leaving it at $670M.  Since then, House Ways and Means Chair Brian Dempsey and I have prioritized rebuilding the fund, resulting in a current balance of $1.25B. Housing For the second year in a row, Massachusetts has reached nearly pre-recession level in new housing units.  Simultaneously, the Massachusetts Housing Price Index has reached pre-recession highs.  While generally this is regarded as a positive sign of economic recovery, it also points to the high cost of living in the Commonwealth-and why some struggle to attain permanent housing without support. Employment Massachusetts has an unemployment rate below the national rate-4.6 per cent here versus 5 per cent nationally-and has remained below the national level since before the economic downturn. For those facing unemployment, however, the Commonwealth remains committed to not letting anyone go it alone.  In the fiscal year 2016 budget, we appropriated $2M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to train unemployed and low-wage workers, and we created a new $1.2M Training Resources and Internship Networks (TRAIN) grant program, a partnership with community colleges to specifically target the long-term unemployed and provide them with training and internship opportunities and the chance to fill resume gaps. We continue to work to ensure employment opportunities for all skill levels. Education Inextricably tied to economic opportunity is the ability to access a quality education.  I believe that educational supports must start very early, and continuing education should be available for those who wish or need to change careers as adults. A variety of programs in our fiscal year 2016 budget provided for the educational attainment of all age groups.  We appropriated $12M to reduce the waitlist for childcare services and $18.6M to expand full-day kindergarten programs.  Additionally, we sought to expand not-for-credit vocationally-oriented course offerings by including $1.5M for the Community College Workforce Training Incentive Grant Program.   To help children and families get the mental health services they need so children can focus on learning, I was proud to fully fund all Family Resource Centers, including the important oversight and operations work these programs do.   We also appropriated $11.5M for the Youth At-Risk Summer Jobs program to better prepare them for a life beyond the school walls. Lifting All Families In my first budget as Chair of Senate Ways and Means, I made a commitment to Lift All Families.  Massachusetts has long stood by its commitment to its citizens, resulting in one of the lowest poverty levels in the country.  Since 2005, the Massachusetts poverty rate has been three to four percentage points below the national average.  Regardless, the costs of essentials such as housing can be high for many families.  In the fiscal year 2016 budget, therefore, we preserved eligibility standards for families seeking Emergency Assistance and funded important support services to divert homeless families and families at risk of homelessness from shelters. We also appropriated $2M for housing and supportive services for unaccompanied homeless youth.  As addiction continues to be a scourge with the power to derail individuals and families, we provided $5M in new funding for over 150 post-detox beds.   While I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished in the past, we must always be looking forward.  As we start work on the Senate's fiscal year 2017 budget, I hope to hear from all of you on the values and priorities you wish to have lifted up.   As always, if you would like additional information or have any concerns or comments, please call my office at (617) 722-1640 or email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov. I wish you and yours a wonderful New Year! Warm Regards, Senator Karen E. Spilka 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk  Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Forward this email Senator Karen E. Spilka | Massachusetts State House, Room 212 | Boston | MA | 02133