Joint Budget Subcommittee get the details on the current $10.1 million budget deficit

The Joint Budget Subcommittee heard from Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas Giguere as they outlined the challenges leading to the current $10.1 Million budget deficit the Town of Franklin is facing for Fiscal Year 2025.

The presentation is supposed to be posted to the Town page Thursday. In the meantime, screen grabs of most of the slides shared are available in the photo album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/b4HcchHohAs9vqrJA

Presentation doc found (3/08/24  pm) ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-03-06_fy25_budget_slides_jbsc.pdf

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33RO5xYoUg

My notes captured via Twitter and found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m42hRAFdfM-OX-brLa6epXiuEktOEeWU/view?usp=drive_link

Town Administrator’s Preliminary FY25 Budget Model

a. Town Administration Memo  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/joint_budget_subcommittee_memo_2.pdf

b. Committee Charge  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/joint_budget_subcommittee_memo_2.pdf

c. FY25 Revenue & Control Sheet  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_control_sheet_budget_model.pdf 

d. February 13, 2024 School Committee Budget Discussion Slideshow  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/feb_2024_school_committee_budget_update_0.pdf

slide from school part of the presentation

Worthy reads on School Funding Topics via Tracy Novick

Two pieces from Tracy Novick on school funding that are worth reading. 

In the first, she takes the Boston Globe to task for misrepresenting the issue using a report that doesn't explain where it's numbers are sourced from. https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2023/12/in-which-globe-misses-plot-on-education.html

In the second, she created a thread in Twitter that I captured in one PDF for easier reading. The explanation of a maintenance budget for facilities was timely having just come from the Town of Franklin Finance Committee meeting where they did a "deep dive" on Facilities. As interesting as the meeting was, some of the members were missing, so it seemed overall to be missing the insights a real "deep dive" could have had (my 2 cents). Tracy's thread ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tY76jH2h5Oag9k5gb9Nmw4hP3BCbwYYI/view?usp=drive_link

Actually you can also go to the top of the thread to better view the GIFs  -> https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1735067955459694708

Worthy reads on School Funding Topics via Tracy Novick

Reminder: MASC Workshop scheduled by School Committee for Nov 27, 2023 at 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin School Committee

School Committee MASC Workshop

November 27, 2023  6:00 - 7:30 PM

Municipal Building – 3rd Floor Training Room

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● MASC Workshop 

Agenda doc (note there is NO remote participation option listed on agenda)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fps_masc_workshop_agenda.pdf

MASC Workshop scheduled by School Committee for Nov 27, 2023 at 6 PM

Going forward from FY 2024, what is sustainable? (audio)

FM #1020 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1020 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Town Council Chair Tom Mercer, School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, and School Committee Chair Denise Spencer. 

We had our conversation at the Municipal Building on Tuesday June 27,2023. Tom Mercer joined via Zoom.  

Now that the major FY 2024 budget decisions are behind us, how we will go forward becomes the topic. The next steps start with the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting scheduled for Aug 2. 

Over the next several months, lots of conversations, and planning discussion should result in a plan to go forward that the ad-hoc residents committee can then spread the word on for a potential override decision by the Town.

The conversation runs about 54 minutes. Let’s listen to the recording of the way forward discussion on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1020-fy2024-going-forward-06-27-23

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Town FY 2024 budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

School FY 2024 budget information -> https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 

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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!

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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"

Going forward from FY 2024, what is sustainable? (audio)

CommonWealth Magazine: "ed reform money reaching poorer districts"

"THE LOW-INCOME, HEAVILY IMMIGRANT city of Chelsea is getting over $2,600 per pupil more in state education aid than it did two years ago. That translates to nearly $19 million in additional funds each year going into the district’s $118 million budget.  

Mary Bourque, a former Chelsea superintendent and now director of government affairs for the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, called that a prime illustration that the Student Opportunity Act, a landmark rewrite of the state’s public education funding formula, is working. 

“It is benefiting those who were intended to benefit,” Bourque said. 

Passage of the law in 2019 came after years of complaints that the state education funding formula was not keeping pace with actual costs of providing an adequate education. The original formula, established through the Education Reform Act of 1993, was designed to help equalize education funding by steering more state aid to poorer communities, but critics say those districts were increasingly struggling to meet the rising costs of educating low-income students, English learners, and special education students. The revamp of the funding formula boosted state aid for all three categories of students as well as for the increasing costs of employee health care.  "

Continue reading the overall assessment of the Student Opportunity Act

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/on-target-ed-reform-money-reaching-poorer-districts/

Franklin is one of the "minimum aid" for two reasons; one, it is receiving more than the current calculation says it should. The overage amount is second only to Boston. As the local (Franklin taxpayer portion) of Net School Spending increases to the maximum, at that time, Franklin could see increase in benefits. Two, the second reason that Franklin gets minimum aid is due to its declining enrollment. We peaked at 6100 students in 2010 and have dropped to 4710 (as of the Oct 1, 2022 enrollment report).

The Oct 1, 2022 enrollment report as shared with the School Committee 10/25/22

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GI_O0QuahNYT0XsHhYtfd_hX-Fcfm8uo/view?usp=share_link

Additional info on the FY 23 school budget can be found online

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy-2023-budget

CommonWealth Magazine: "ed reform money reaching poorer districts"

Insights on the House Ways & Means budget vs. Gov Baker's H2 budget starting point

For those closely following the State budget process (it does have significance to the local budget process) Tracy Novick's analysis of the House Ways & Means budget released last week vs. the Governor's budget H2 released in January is a must read.

"The House Ways and Means budget was released Wednesday, April 13. The account by account detail can be found in sections 2 & 3, at the end of which you can find town by town and district by district allocations for local aid, including Chapter 70. The Department of Revenue Division of Local Services have likewise updated their preliminary cherry sheets; the municipal cherry sheets are here; the regional cherry sheets are here. 

I have now updated my FY23 account by account spreadsheet, as well. 

Let me start by highlighting a couple of things that are different than the budget proposed by Governor Baker in January, and then I'll run through the accounts."

Continue reading Tracy's analysis here ->

http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2022/04/fy23-https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=CherrySheets.CSbyProgMunis.RegSchBudgEsthouse-ways-and-means-budget.html

Links in Tracy's article

• House Ways & Means budget -> https://malegislature.gov/Budget/HouseWaysMeansBudget
• Sec 2 & 3 account detail ->   https://malegislature.gov/Reports/13111/FY23%20Sections%202%20and%203.pdf
• municipal Cherry sheet info -> https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=CherrySheets.CSbyProgMunis.MuniBudgEst
• regional Cherry sheet info ->  https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=CherrySheets.CSbyProgMunis.RegSchBudgEst
• Tracy's FY 23 account by account ->   https://www.dropbox.com/s/15lknvv3lgbf3po/FY23%20account%20by%20account%20updated.xlsx?dl=0

Budgets are moral documents, what we fund is what we value

Joint Budget Subcommittee gets first view of projected budget deficit for FY 2023 (audio & transcript)

FM #751 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 751 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting held Thursday, March 10, 2022. 

The first such meeting of this recharged group combining Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee members. 

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

The meeting opened at 6:30 PM and ran an hour and 45 minutes.

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Meeting agenda and budget overview document ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2022-03-10_joint_budget_subcommittee_mtg_agenda.pdf

Meeting transcript -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XfN8Ig5eVvBbILAk_PcUAiCJw7h7JICu/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"

 

TA Jamie Hellen, Miriam Goodman and Supt Sara Ahern presenting to the Joint Budget Subcommittee

Recap: School Committee hears of budget and asks good questions

Quick recap:

• Sara Ahern and Miriam Goodman presented the Superintendent's recommended budget to the School Committee on Tuesday. An increase of approx. $2.4M over prior year, also the lowest amount recommended due to use of revolving funds and prepaying some expenses
• Multiple rounds of questions were asked by the committee and answered for most part right then (some answers to be provided in the next meeting)
• Community gets to participate in the budget hearing scheduled for next meeting March 22
• Budget documents and presentation copies found in agenda packet and in Budget tab on Schools page

Review all my notes taken during the meeting in one document

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BlZ3HbwBxRkDbcyRu6GKp6GpflnW2Tfs/view?usp=sharing

Meeting packet folder ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-8-2022-school-committee-meeting

Budget tab (with this proposed budget and prior budgets) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Audio recording of meeting to be available Thursday. Pilot of meeting transcript scheduled for same posting.

1 slide from the presentation depicts enrollment declining, teachers declining and class size as stable 

circuit breaker, charter school, and regional transportation reimbursement all see increases in H2

Via Tracy Novick, we get an statewide overview of the Governor's budget with a focus on education funding (Chap 70).

"Governor Charlie Baker released his recommended House 2 FY23 budget on Wednesday. The full budget totals $48.5 billion. 

Remember, it's House 2, because it is filed as a bill with the House; it is (bill #)2 because it is the second year of the Legislative session. Last year was House 1. 

I tweeted out an account by account look on Thursday and Friday. I have also put all the education accounts into this spreadsheet, which I will update over the course of the state budget process. I won't go through all of the accounts here, but I'll hit some highlights."

Continue reading the article online

http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2022/01/on-governor-bakers-fy23-budget.html

Get your copy of the H2 budget for FY 2023 here    https://malegislature.gov/Budget/GovernorsBudget

Governor Baker's budget starts the discussion with the Legislature on FY 2023

CommonWealth Magazine: "State budget writers forecast continued growth in tax revenues"

"Budget officials on Friday revised upward their revenue forecast for the current fiscal year by $1.5 billion and then projected the state’s tax take would rise 2.7 percent in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. 

The “consensus revenue” figure of $26.915 billion for fiscal 2023 agreed on by Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz was toward the middle of the range forecasted by the state Department of Revenue at a hearing last month. 

The policymakers were swayed by economists’ predictions of a rise in revenue ($967 million) as society continues to recover from the pandemic. But those same economists, at December’s hearing, warned that there is also significant uncertainty. In the last couple of years, taxes have come in far higher than expected, mainly due to federal recovery efforts injecting large sums of money into the economy, and the state has revised its tax revenue numbers during the course of the year. "

Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/state-budget-writers-forecast-continued-growth-in-tax-revenues/
 

Why share this item? 

As we get into the budget season, it really starts with the State budget when the Governor introduces his view of the budget on the 4th Wednesday of January. The Governor's numbers generally are used to determine the Chap 70 and local aid expected for Franklin which accounts for about 25-30% of our total revenue. 

Listen to the revenue calculation describe in the recent Finance Committee meeting and you'll hear how the revenue is calculated and then adjusted as the year progresses and the State finalized their budget (usually around Aug/Sep), and after Franklin gets peak at its own revenue and how those projects are coming through (or not) before setting the tax rate in December to 'close out' the budget cycle for a fiscal year.

Listen to the Finance Committee meeting ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/finance-committee-gets-lesson-on.html

"The annual budget process begins each year when the Governor files recommendations as a bill with the House of Representatives. Under the state Constitution, the Governor must submit a proposal by the 4th Wednesday of January or, in the event of a new term, within five weeks later. This bill is called House 1 or "House 2" depending on the year."   https://malegislature.gov/Budget/GovernorsBudget

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

 

"School funding is both enormously important and extremely complicated"

It is timely that the Franklin School Committee has a workshop scheduled to help the new members understand the Franklin school budget. While much has been written around the impact of the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) and how it will help MA better fund schools, this Shanker Report looks at state to state funding comparisons and finds MA lacking.

This helps position the Franklin budget in the overall bigger picture of school funding across the nation. 

"This year's Shanker Institute report on the adequacy and fairness of school funding, which uses 2019 data, gives a stark picture of where we have been in Massachusetts. 

2019, of course, is when, in November, we FINALLY got a revision to the state formula, one-sixth (mostly) of which was FINALLY implemented this current fiscal year.

The work of Bruce D. Baker of Rutgers University), Matthew Di Carlo and Kayla Reist of the Shanker Institute, and Mark Weber, also at Rutgers University, the report looks at effort, progressivity, and adequacy; that is: how much are states actually trying in using the fiscal resources they have for schools, and do they make sure poor kids are getting more resources, and are districts getting enough money to get to outcomes needed.

And we don't look so hot, Massachusetts. "

Continue reading the article online

https://who-cester.blogspot.com/2021/12/how-much-has-massachusetts-really-been.html

You can go directly to the Shanker Report ->

https://www.schoolfinancedata.org/the-adequacy-and-fairness-of-state-school-finance-systems-2022/

The MA profile can be found here ->

https://www.schoolfinancedata.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/profiles19_MA.pdf

our effort level ranks #43 in the nation (out of 49)

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

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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"

 

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

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