School Committee Budget Subcmte reviews updates on key slides, discusses approach for budget hearings (audio)

FM #1698= This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1698 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Budget Subcmte Meeting held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 6 PM. All 3 members participated in person in the 3rd Floor Training Room. 

Subcommittee Chair Paul Griffith, Ruthann O’Sullivan and Nadia Mausolf. 

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Business Administrator Jana Melotti participated. 

Quick recap:

• The meeting provided a discussion on updates to some of the key information and preparation for the budget hearings with the Finance Committee & Town Council

• Discussion also on the talking points to continue to tell the full story

The recording runs about 43 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1698-franklin-ma-school-cmte-budget-subcmte-03-24-26/

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School Committee Budget Subcmte agenda -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2200 

Copies of the update slide pages

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11QvzNNhI9VJuL3xIS96iWAhi6A_bvJJh/view?usp=drive_link

Full deck from the January School Committee meeting

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/c4d59008-f976-47e4-98c1-b1a251bb5690/FINAL---FY27-Superintendents-Recommended-Budget-%282%29.pdf?disposition=inline 

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

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

Finance Committee gets a good discussion on policies, and an update on the grant process yielding $112M over 10 years (audio)

FM #1696 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1696 in the series. 

This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Committee meeting opened with 6 members present, 2 absent (1 open position reportedly to be filled soon).

Quick recap:

• a healthy and engaging discussion on the policies, to be resumed at one of the budget hearings in April before making a recommendation on changes (if any) to the Town Council

• Presentation on the grant process and the yield of $112M over 10 years, an average of $10M/year

• Future Agenda Items / Next meeting Dates:

• a. April 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2026 - Anticipated Finance Committee Budget Hearings

• b. May 28, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion - first look at health care numbers as open enrollment would have closed Apr 30

• c. June 3, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion and vote to recommend budget with changes (if any) for the Town Council to vote on at their June 10 session

The recording runs almost 2 hours, let’s listen

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1696-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-03-11-26/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/UZl8H4Koptg?&t=476

Agenda (updated 3/11/26) - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2189

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oxC1JQgvl3PoNs-2qaHf9vacux3JvsZY/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album of the grant presentation slides shared 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kLdsxaJEHqXjYEzT7 

Summary of grants over 10 years

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"

Franklin School Committee - Budget Subcommittee Meeting - March 24 at 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools Franklin School Committee

Budget Subcommittee Meeting 

March 24, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room

● FY27 Budget check-in, questions, and next steps

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info -

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2200

Boston Globe: "That pot of money has pretty much run out"

"Communities across the state are facing intense financial pressure this spring, as inflation causes expenses to surge.

Boston Globe: "That pot of money has pretty much run out"

In affluent Marblehead, local officials are even considering closing the town library, just two years after a $10 million renovation, to balance the books.

The coastal town has a $7 million budget deficit, as rising health care and employee pension costs outpace tax revenue, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said.

“Marblehead on the revenue side has been relying on so-called free cash, basically savings from the past,” Kezer said. “That pot of money has pretty much run out.”

As a worst-case scenario, officials are considering shutting down five other town departments, the Council on Aging, the Health Department (except the health agent), Community Development and Planning, and Recreation and Parks."

Continue reading the article with this 'share' link - 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/17/metro/marblehead-budget-deficit-risks-library-closure/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Follow the Franklin Finance Committee Budget hearings April 6 through 9. Get a good dose of information on the school funding tonight at the joint Town Council and School Committee meeting

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 ???

Wednesday, March 11

1:00pm    Writer's Group session moved to March 18

7:00pm Smarty Pants Trivia (Raillery Public House)

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

***  Town Meetings today   ***

Norfolk County Commissioners Public Hearing Notice

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2159

Public view budget for Norfolk County - https://cms5.revize.com/revize/norfolkcountyma/FY27%20BUDGET%20PUBLIC%20VIEWING%20COPY%203%205%2026.pdf?t=202603060812320&t=202603060812320 

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2176

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2167

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Agenda for the Franklin Finance Committee Mtg - Weds, March 11, 2026 at 6 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments 

- Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Finance Committee cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments.

The Finance Committee may ask town staff to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the town staff from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. Approval of Minutes

a. February 25, 2026

4. Presentations/Discussion

a. Review Town Financial Policies

i. 2024-2025 Financial Policies

5. The Bill Dowd “Deep Dive Series”

a. Municipal Grant Process Overview   

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8636/Municipal-Grant-Process-Overview

b. Historical Grant Data Summary   

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8637/5b-Historical-Grant-Data---Summary

6. Future Agenda Items / Next meeting Dates:

a. April 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2026 - Anticipated Finance Committee Budget Hearings

b. May 28, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion TBD

c. June 3, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion TBD

7. Finance Committee Member Comments

8. Adjourn

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2176

School Committee March Newsletter with FY 2027 budget info & 2026-27 School Calendar

School Committee March Newsletter 

The March School Committee Newsletter is available now. 

Get caught up on the FY27 Budget discussions and see the 2026 - 2027 School Calendar.

Read the entire Newsletter here:  https://aptg.co/FlGsHJ

Shared from https://www.franklinps.net/live-feed#11628628

Town Council adds to the Tier 1 capital budget and extends their 4 hour limit on Feb 11, 2026 (audio)

 

FM #1673-74-75 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1673-74-75 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session. 

• 1673 - covers the opening, Citizen comments, Council Comments, ABCC license change approval (approx. 45 mins) 

• 1674 - segment from the meeting covering the full discussion on the5 Year fiscal forecast & discussion  (approx. 1 hr. 33 mins)  

• 1675 - segment from the meeting covers the Capital Budget discussion and the remainder of the meeting  (approx. 2 hours and 3 mins)

  

Audio 1673 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1673-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p1-of-3/

Audio 1674 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1674-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p2-of-3/

Audio 1675 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1675-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p3-of-3/

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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/town-council-adds-to-tier-1-capital.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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"