Showing posts with label FY 2022. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FY 2022. Show all posts

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Legal Notice - FY 2022 Tax Rate Hearing - Dec 1, 2021

FY 2022 Tax Rate Hearing - Legal Notice

The Franklin Town Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 7:10 P.M. on the issue of allocating the local property tax levy among the 5 property classes for the Fiscal Year 2022. The hearing will provide an open forum for the discussion of local property tax policy. Interested taxpayers may present oral or written information on their views.

Prior to the setting of the tax rate, the Town Council must adopt a Residential Factor following which the Council selects the percentage of the levy to be borne by Commercial and Industrial and Personal Property.

Citizens are now welcome to attend public meetings in person. Additionally, citizens will be able to continue to participate remotely via phone OR Zoom. Residents can visit the Town Website (Franklinma.gov) and click on the Town Calendar for up to date information on how to access the meeting. If you have any questions, please call the Town Administrator’s Office at (508) 520-4949.

Submitted by, 
Alecia Alleyne
Licensing Administrator


Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2021-11-18_web_legal_ad_tax_rate_hearing_2022.pdf

 

Legal Notice - FY 2022 Tax Rate Hearing - Dec 1, 2021
Legal Notice - FY 2022 Tax Rate Hearing - Dec 1, 2021


Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Talk Franklin: Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio)

FM #660 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 660 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing Communication Specialist Lily Rivera. We had our conversation in person in Jamie’s office in the Franklin Municipal Building.


We talk about: 

The Strong Towns event at THE BLACK BOX

Finance Committee

  • Budget adjustments

  • Overall budget cycle, tax rate hearing coming to close, but capital budget for FY 2023 underway

Town Council

  • Swearing in, re-org

  • Open meeting law, Ethics, records review

  • Meeting conduct reminders

Critical Conversations – Nov 18

  • Substance abuse and mental health panel and breakout sessions


Links to the key references are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Lily.

Audio file ->  
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/96623c72-eadb-4095-b468-70bd35dab55e


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Finance Committee meeting agenda ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-11-10_finance_committee_agenda_1.pdf


My meeting notes & meeting audio -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/fm-655-finance-committee-mtg-111021.html 


Town Council Agenda (98 page PDF agenda and docs released for this meeting)    

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_meeting_agenda_nov_17_2021.pdf


The Worcester Regional Research Bureau restaurant license report referenced during our conversation ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/191cph8dOCd8DJnmB8xQg1rpwkfwRhqz8/view?usp=sharing 



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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


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!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

Talk Franklin:  Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio)
Talk Franklin:  Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio)

Friday, November 12, 2021

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

FM #655 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 655 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.


The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the seven Finance Committee members present were in the Municipal Building along with some of the public, other members of the public joined via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.


The recording runs about 29 minutes.


Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.


Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting Nov 10, 2021

 

Audio file ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c3c9189c-91ac-4510-856e-de5712479fc5


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Finance Committee Agenda doc (including connection info) ->  

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html

 

My notes captured during the meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-finance-committee-hears-of-fy.html


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


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!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)
FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Recap: Finance Committee hears of FY 2022 overall budget reduction of $454K

Quick Recap:
  • New growth had been forecasted to be $1,199,593 and is being revised down to be $1,105,000; the $94,593 less revenue is one piece of several moving parts of the budget

  • The State numbers (Chapter 70, etc.) were finalized in August and now those numbers become real and update what had been expected when the budget was put together in Mar/Apr. The total net change to the bottom line is a decrease of over $400K. The Town side will absorb about $300K and the school budget will be reduced by $93K. The summary of how the decrease is absorbed can be found on page 12

  • Host community agreements are not considered 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such cannabis products that generate the agreements. They are forecast for a five year revenue period, currently the max allowed under MA general law. The host community agreement funds are therefore allocated to DPW, SAFE Coalition, and Police Department as outlined in the memo/draft resolution on page 13


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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter. I participated in the meeting in the Council Chambers. 
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom1110
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom1110&src=typeahead_click 
 
Agenda document -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
 
  • #fincom1110 meeting about to start agenda and connection info -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
  • Chair calls meeting to order with 7 members present #fincom1110
  • Town Administrator Jamie Hellen speaks to the adjustments for FY 2022 as part of the annual budget process. Usually done about this time before the tax rate is set in late Nov/early Dec  https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_nov_10_2021.pdf…  #finCom1110
  • new growth amount to be reduced, use 10 year average, and things have changed since it was forecasted earlier this year #fincom1110 main item of note from memo, packet on page 2, see totals of new growth over last 10 years preparation of savings in good times, paves way
  • "baring any unforeseen circumstances", everyone is seeing disruptions in supply chains; State revenues finalized after our budget was done, so the numbers are finalized at this time - page 7 in the packet show offsets on Charter school revenue vs. assessments #fincom1110
  • pause for Qs on revenue sheet; none at this time -  narrative of memo that intros the doc explains these line item changes #fincom1110 Fire/Police changes due to unforeseen retirements and resulting new hire training/staffing items
  • decrease to Schools also due to the lower revenue growth; Health Dept adjustment due to Health nurse starting later than anticipated, hence salary savings #fincom1110 health ins categories decreases reflect enrollment numbers vs. projections
  • host community agreements are not 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such; #fincom1110 memo on 13 outlines where the incoming funds would be used
  • page 12 - outlines the total general operating budget adjustments #fincom1110 host agreements currently for a 5 year term;
  • motion to approve general fund adjustments #fincom1110 seconded, passes 7-0 (Corbosiero and Keophanga absent)
  • motion to approve resolution on host agreements, seconded, passes 7-0
  • late receipt of bills from printing (performed during prior fiscal year) #fincom1110 (possible pandemic related problem, hoping it a one time problem) motion to approve, seconded, passes 7-0
  • motion to adjourn, seconded, passes 7-0 #fincom1110
  • stay tuned for Town Council meeting coming up at 7 #tc1110  #fincom1110
 
 Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

 

summary of how the decrease is absorbed
summary of how the decrease is absorbed


Monday, November 8, 2021

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Nov 10, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
November 10, 2021 - 6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers
355 East Central Street 

Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comments
3. Town Budget proposals
a. Previous Year unpaid bills
b. FY22 Operating Budget Amendment
c. Host Community Agreement Cannabis Appropriations
4. Adjourn

Agenda doc and remote connection info ->

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Nov 10, 2021
Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - Nov 10, 2021


Friday, October 1, 2021

Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes on FY22 Budget Provisions

Senate Overrides Governor's Vetoes on FY22 Budget Provisions

Senate supports vulnerable populations, a robust regional transit system, safe drinking water and long-term solutions for poverty and higher education affordability


Today, the Massachusetts State Senate took final action to override a series of gubernatorial vetoes on the state budget for fiscal year 2022. In restoring key provisions of the budget, the Senate will ensure that a greater portion of the Commonwealth's vulnerable populations receive vital support from the state, that long-term studies of poverty and higher education affordability are carried out, and that regional transit authorities are sufficiently funded to emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic, along with other items.

"The Massachusetts Senate will never waiver in its commitment to people of the Commonwealth," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "By overturning these vetoes, we take one more step forward in our work to build a Commonwealth that is more inclusive, affordable and open to all – holding true to the spirit of the budget we passed earlier this year. I would like to thank Chair Rodrigues, the entire Ways and Means committee, and my colleagues in the Senate for carefully balancing and debating a budget which will take us 'back to better'."

"The votes we took today to override all of the Governor's vetoes helps to maintain the integrity and the spirit of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget conference committee agreement reached in July," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "I want to thank the Senate President and my colleagues for taking these actions that are consistent with this Legislature's support for a forward-looking budget plan. Whether it's investing in regional transportation, helping individuals and families in need of assistance, supporting our retirees or modernizing our tax code, our collective actions today reinforced our support for a state budget that has left our Commonwealth in a much stronger fiscal position than before the COVID-19 pandemic."

Included in the FY22 budget are provisions which eliminate asset limits for two programs which offer support to the Commonwealth's most vulnerable populations: Emergency Assistance to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) and Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), which helps families with housing-related difficulties. Asset limits on these programs create arbitrary barriers to entry for families in need of assistance, preventing them from receiving money that they could spend on education, job training, reliable transportation, home expenses, and other emergency needs. Additionally, removing the asset limits protects families in poverty from being removed from these programs when they still need assistance and improves administrative efficiency by simplifying the application review process. The actions of the Senate today ensure that the asset limits for both eliminated.

The Senate also voted to restore to $94 million funding for Massachusetts' Regional Transit Authorities.

Final action was also taken to restore a revenue-positive pass-through entity excise tax which would generate $90 million for the state and save Massachusetts taxpayers up to $1.12 billion in federal taxes. 

Provisions voted on today also act to modernize the state's tax code. The FY22 budget included these provisions to remove certain tax credits which no longer serve their intended purpose, based on recommendations from a recent report by the Senate-championed Tax Expenditure Review Commission. These tax credits are claimed by only a few large companies and, according to the report, do not provide a measurable return on investment or identifiable benefit to the state

Items geared toward long-term solutions for fighting poverty and the rising cost of higher education also faced gubernatorial vetoes. Included in FY22 budget were a Special Commission on Poverty and a Higher Education Affordability Task Force. The Special Commission on Poverty will bring together advocates and experts to explore demographic disparities, analyze historical rates of poverty, identify the underlying causes of poverty in the Commonwealth, and survey existing state programs for their effectiveness, culminating in presenting policy recommendations.

Similarly, the Higher Education Affordability Task Force will bring together stakeholders from public and private institutions of higher learning, including community colleges, as well as members of the business community who have a vested interest in maintaining a well-educated and prepared workforce, to analyze rising college costs and propose solutions to the legislature.  By overriding the Governor's veto on these items, the Legislature will ensure these important commissions can commence their work.

Also restored, following vetoes by the Governor, were two provisions pertaining to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). One provision exempts DCR's Division of Water Supply Protection from restrictions or limitations on staffing levels and hiring, allowing the Division to adequately prepare for its role in protecting our drinking water. Another provision would require the DCR to obtain local approval prior to collecting parking fees in a local jurisdiction, affording municipalities the opportunity to offer input and collaborate on a parking plan with DCR that would be mutually beneficial.

Finally, the actions of the Senate would raise the cap on hours a retiree may work annually from 960 hours to 1,200 hours.

Having passed the House and Senate, the above provisions are now law.

 

Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes on FY22 Budget Provisions
Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes on FY22 Budget Provisions

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Massachusetts State Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes on Fiscal Year 2022 Funding

Massachusetts State Senate Overrides Governor's Vetoes on Fiscal Year 2022 Funding

Ensures adequate funding for school districts, RTAs, police training, behavioral health and more 

The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed a bill to override Governor Charlie Baker's vetoes on certain items in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget passed earlier this month. The actions taken by the Senate will ensure adequate funding for school districts, regional transit authorities (RTAs), and public and mental health supports, as well as the implementation of last year's landmark police reform bill. Additionally, the bill includes measures to reinstate certain guidance relevant to state bodies such as the MBTA and prison facilities.

"Our Fiscal Year 2022 budget was carefully crafted and debated to ensure the success of our efforts to get back to better by focusing on resources and services that are critical to everyday life in the Commonwealth," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Senate refuses to compromise on investing in public transportation, our schools, and behavioral health supports, among other things, which are so important to our recovery. I would like to thank Chair Rodrigues, the entire Ways and Means committee, and my colleagues for acting swiftly to override the Governor's actions.

"The votes we took to swiftly override the Governor's vetoes ensure we stay the course and uphold the spirit of a forward-looking, fiscally responsible Fiscal Year 2022 budget plan that this Senate passed unanimously a few weeks ago," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "I want to thank my friend, Senate President Spilka for her close counsel and leadership, Chair Michlewitz for his continued partnership, the members and staff of Ways and Means for their hard work and my colleagues and their staffs for their input throughout this process. Collectively, our actions today support our Commonwealth and our communities, providing municipalities with critical resources necessary to meet the requirements of police reform, preserving an equitable funding stream for our regional transit authorities, while taking a common-sense approach to fulfill future obligations we know exist—fully funding the Student Opportunity and meeting our state pension needs."

Many of the Governor's vetoes were cost-cutting measures deemed unnecessary by the Legislature in light of the state's need to invest in crucial programs and services. Gubernatorial vetoes threatened $150,000 in funding for the children's behavioral health advisory council, as well as $150,000 for Emergency Family Assistance Shelters. With the Legislature's overrides, these funds are now restored.

To offset the cost of charter schools on school districts, this legislation reinstates a policy of 100 per cent charter school tuition reimbursement for school districts which have reached the spending cap on charter schools, thereby providing $2.9 million to school districts across the Commonwealth. For local transportation, $3.5 million is reinstated to enable Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to operate effectively as use of public transportation picks back up.

Last year's omnibus police reform legislation, An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the Commonwealth, included provisions requiring cities and towns in Massachusetts to follow new officer training standards. In line with this, the Legislature set aside $1 million in funding to pay cities and towns for costs incurred by new training programs, which the Governor vetoed entirely. The override legislation reinstates this funding so that cities and towns can be compliant with the police reform law without additional financial burden.

Citing fiscal concerns, the Senate also voted to further delay implementation of a tax deduction for charitable donations until at least 2023.

"The trigger for the charitable tax deduction was the income tax hitting 5 per cent, and that happened January 1, 2020," said Senator Adam G. Hinds (D-Pittsfield). "In the period between the triggering event and the start of the implementation of the charitable tax deduction, COVID-19 hit and completely changed our economic picture. A delay makes sense until we have more clarity on the economy and our revenue absent federal assistance."

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget conference report included two transfers of FY22 funds to help support known obligations that the Commonwealth will face in the future: fully funding the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) and unfunded state pension obligations. The Governor sent an amendment back asserting that there may not be sufficient surplus funds to make the transfers as proposed and recommended using FY21 funds instead. The Senate adopted a further amendment yesterday that suggests funding these transfers to the highest level possible given actual revenues at the time the transfer is to take place, thus providing flexibility to react to an uncertain future revenue picture while still requiring surplus funded to be dedicated to cover these future obligations.

In addition to funding projects across the Commonwealth, the legislation passed on Thursday encourages the MBTA to develop 'shovel-ready projects,' or projects in their final stages of development, in anticipation of incoming federal dollars and their requirements. The Senate also reinstated guidance on releasing, transitioning, or furloughing inmates from Massachusetts prisons in a timely manner.

Having previously been passed by the House, the overrides now return to the Governor's desk with a veto-proof majority.

Massachusetts State Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes on Fiscal Year 2022 Funding
Massachusetts State Senate Overrides Governor’s Vetoes


Saturday, July 17, 2021

CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker signs budget, takes different tack on tax policy"

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Friday signed into law a $47.6 billion state budget for fiscal 2022, which began two weeks ago. 

While he let most of the budget become law, Baker, who has line-item veto power, had multiple disagreements with lawmakers over tax policy. He vetoed a delay in the implementation of a state tax deduction for charitable giving. He also vetoed lawmakers’ attempts to eliminate two tax credits aimed at specific types of businesses and haggled with them over the details of a new corporate tax benefit. "


Boston Globe coverage


The full budget summary details  https://budget.digital.mass.gov/summary/fy22/

CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker signs budget, takes different tack on tax policy"
https://budget.digital.mass.gov/summary/fy22/




Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Senate President Karen Spilka: The FY22 Budget is On Its Way to the Governor's Desk


Update on the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2022
Building 'Back to Better'
I am pleased to announce that the Massachusetts State Legislature on Friday unanimously passed a $48.07 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), an increase of $326 million over the Senate FY22 budget. This budget maintains fiscal responsibility and recommends targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable populations and ensure that residents will benefit equitably as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taking into consideration strong tax revenue performance in Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), the final FY22 conference report increases revenue assumptions by $4.2 billion over the December consensus revenue projection for a new tax revenue projection of $34.35 billion. The FY22 budget does not make a withdrawal from the Stabilization Fund and projects an estimated balance of approximately $5.8 billion for this crucial 'rainy day' fund at the end of the fiscal year.
Student Opportunity Act
Notably, the Legislature provides substantial funds in the FY22 budget to meet the Commonwealth's long-term obligations. The new Student Opportunity Act Investment fund was funded at $350 million to be utilized in the coming years for the implementation of the state's landmark Student Opportunity Act (SOA). Additionally, a supplemental payment of $250 million was transferred to the Pension Liability Fund to reduce the Commonwealth's pension liability.
early education & Child care
As a cornerstone of the Commonwealth's equitable recovery, the FY22 budget protects access to educational opportunity and charts a path forward for students, families, educators, and institutions. The budget maintains the Legislature's commitment to implementing the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) by FY 2027. The conference report proposal funds the SOA consistent with the $5.503 billion local aid agreement reached in March, amounting to an increase of $220 million over FY21. Despite the uncertainty created by the pandemic, this increased level of investment represents a 1/6th implementation of SOA rates and ensures that school districts across the Commonwealth have adequate and equitable resources to provide high quality educational opportunities for all students.
mental & behavioral health
The FY22 budget also includes a $40 million reserve to provide additional aid to districts experiencing increases in student enrollment compared to October 2020, as well as $387.9 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker, which reimburses school districts for the high cost of educating students with disabilities at the statutorily required 75% reimbursement rate. Additionally, the conference report includes $154.6 million for reimbursing school districts at 75% for costs incurred when students leave to attend charter schools.
housing
Finally, I am proud to say that my personal priority of including $6 million for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) grants to help K-12 schools bolster SEL supports for students—including $1 million for a new pilot program to provide mental health screenings for K-12 students—made it into the final budget.
economic development
For further information about the budget, please see here  (https://karenspilka.com/updates/2021/7/9/massachusetts-legislature-passes-fy22-budget).

The budget now moves to the Governor for consideration. As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact my office at 617-722-1500 or Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov.

Regards,