Recap: Finance Committee gets a walk through on revenue calculation and preview of budget cycle timeline for FY 2023

Quick Recap:

• Overview of Joint Budget committee proposal to formalize more than had been over the past several years. Members of budget subcommittee of Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee make up this review, collaborative, and non-voting body
• Committee gets a walk through on revenue calculation (see page 3 of agenda doc) and preview of budget cycle timeline for FY 2023 (see page 2) The walk through on the revenue calculation is a "must listen" when recording is available
• Finance polices to be reviewed during next session, potential changes coming to a few of the policies, for review with FinCom before going to Town Council for their approval too

Agenda doc for the Finance Committee, note it has supporting pages with great info ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee/agenda/fin-com-agenda-20

 

The twitter thread of my notes taken during the meeting can be viewed in the embedded doc below or at this link ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KHbng2g4Q_CU8bHBeS8Uhp7ezXt6APLX/view?usp=sharing

Audio file to be available in couple of days

 

TA Jamie Hellen provides Overview of Joint Budget committee proposal

FM #543 - Talk Franklin - 05/14/21 (audio)

FM #543 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 543 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Budget and upcoming Town Council hearings 5/26-27

• Housing plan out for public comment

• Maple Hill right of first refusal clock started

• Pop up grant received

• ArtWALK Celebration June 11-12-13

Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 31 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f6565222-dc69-409d-9db4-d1805fee4f22

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Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

Recap of the EDC meeting includes links to the Housing Plan

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-economic-development-subcomm.html

Added Town Council meeting for Maple Hill right of first refusal

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html

Pop Shop Franklin -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/town-of-franklin-ma-pop-shop-franklin.html 

ArtWALK - hold the dates -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/hold-dates-franklin-artwalk-celebration.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 #543 - Talk Franklin - 05/14/21 (audio) 

FM #512 Joint Budget SubComm Mtg- 04/12/21 (audio)

FM #512 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 512 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Monday, April 12, 2021.

The Joint Budget Subcommittee is made up of members of the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the Finance Committee members, School Committee, Schools Central Office, Town Council members, Town Administrator and key personnel, were in the Council Chambers; the remaining Subcommittee members joined the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 25 minutes, so let’s listen to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0e686928-3b7e-4aff-875e-154b55f98b01

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Joint Budget agenda  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2021-04-12_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_1.pdf l 

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

My notes captured from the meeting recording
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/recap-joint-budget-subcommittee-meeting.html  

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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 #512 Joint Budget SubComm Mtg- 04/12/21 (audio)

Recap - Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting - Apr 12, 2021

Quick Recap:

• This meeting was asked for as a result of the Town Council budget subcommittee (Mar 17, 2021) seeing a preview of the School Committee budget and yet not having anyone to ask questions about it. So this meeting is scheduled and a couple of 'little' questions are asked but they don’t ask the 'real' questions.
• The Schools do not include Davis Thayer in their budget; students will leave in June, items will be moved from it to Keller (and potentially elsewhere in the district) as it gets emptied and cleaned prior to getting declared surplus. Superintendent Ahern is hesitant to declare a date that may be premature as much work on the transition to Keller remains to be done. The School Committee is planned to vote to declare the building surplus during the transition process.
• Minimal maintenance amounts for the Davis Thayer building are in the town side of the budget and the Town would be happy if the School District took care of the other remaining materials in the school to handle that final disposition (or surplus for desk, books, etc.) before the Town takes over.
• We do find out that the Town budget will be released on Friday, April 16 with plenty of supporting material. It will reflect a slight increase in new growth revenue and in local receipts over the amounts previewed at the aforementioned budget meeting. There is no use of the debt stabilization funds to balance. There is a possibility of a proposed fiscal policy to set aside a percent of free cash for debt stabilization to help avoid future budget issues.

 
----
 
Unlike most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes when listening to the audio recording of the meeting that I missed. 

• Chair Matt Kelly opens meeting, reads protocol statement
• FY 2022 budget discussion opens with TA Hellen providing an overview
• An outcome from the previous TC budget subcommittee meeting to ensure all three groups are aligned
• town administrator’s recommended budget being released on Friday April1 16, historical and supporting data being released with it to provide something to read over the school break
• Participating: Supt Sara Ahern, School Comm Chair Anne Bergen, Vice Chair Denise Spencer, also Tim Keenan, Jen D’Angelo school committee members
• Participating in Chambers: FinCom George Conley, Councilors Mercer and Pellegri.
• Town Councilor Melanie Hamblen on remote, FinCom member Nicole Corbosiero and Susan Dewsnap on remote
•  Q  - FinCom member George Conley - from the American Rescue Plan as released by the MMA site, has that been allocated and included in this budget?
• A - Hellen - no, guidance coming from Treasury in May, the funds themselves possibly will be available in a similar time frame. Apparently, we’ll have 3 years to spend then but there has not yet been a discussion on how and where we would. The money  can be used for infrastructure and broadband, water, sewer, roads, etc. It can not be used to set aside for a rainy day, or to fund pension obligations. There will be an appendix in the budget to show and account for the CARES Act funds received during the pandemic last year.
• Q - councilor Melanie Hamblen - some folks complain about the training provided. Could we have a list of how many, what kind of training provided.
• Kelly - good idea
• Q - FinCom Susan Dewsnap - since we saw your preview of the budget has there been any significant changes on the revenue forecast?
• A - Jamie Hellen - yes, a couple - one we did use the 10 year average as a guide for new growth which will come in at about $1.1M (which is up over the preview) and we also added about $200K to the expected local receipts (over the preview). The Governor’s revenue number is still in the budget, while the House and Senate did agree to an increase in local aid last week, we don't yet know how that will play out. So that potential increase is not in our budget being released this week.
• Q - FinCom Susan Dewsnap - we did have a small amount of budget stabilization funds, does the budget include any of that?
• A - Jamie Hellen - no, it does not.
• Q - Council Chair Tom Mercer - how are you carrying Davis Thayer in your budget? While you have indicated closing it, you java not yet declared it surplus so something must be keeping it active.
• A - Supt Sara Ahern - yes, the school committee did vote to close Dave Thayer, there is a transition plan underway to account for the transition of the students to Keller. Most of the budget is for personnel and we have realized a savings of about $770K which is being reinvested within the district. As the school is still being used right now, she has not yet asked the School Committee to vote on it being declared surplus but anticipates that would be as part of the transition process.
• A - Jamie adds, the town facilities budget will show minimal amounts for water and utilities in anticipation of it not being used. Also several of the buildings, Senior Center, Library, etc. which had been closed or mostly so will also reflect an increase in the facilities budget as those building return to use under the reopening process.
• Q - Councilor Pellegri - why would we wait until the end of the year?
• A - Supt Ahern - I don’t want to put out too premature a date when the facility is still being used. Once school is out the materials etc. will need to be moved to Keller or elsewhere within the district. We’ll also have some clean up to do as not everything will be going. We will move as quickly as we can, so it may be sooner than the end of the year.
• Q - Councilor Pellegri - Jamie, any idea of the cost from June through the end of the year?
• A - Jamie - specifically in the detail Mike D’Angelo has in the budget, don’t have that at finger tips but can share. It is accounted for in the budget. He would like for Miriam to handle most of the school furniture surplus process as she is more familiar with those items than the Town would. Kids get out June 22. It will take some weeks or months to move and clean out.  
• Motion to adjourn

note, others may have participated but were either not acknowledged during the audio or spoke during the audio recording and hence missed in these notes.

Town of Franklin, MA: Joint Budget SubCommittee Mtg - Apr 12, 2021

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

(Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee)

April 12, 2021 = 5:30 PM

 

Agenda

1.FY22 Budget Discussion 

- The Joint Budget Subcommittee is made up of members of the Town Council,School Committee and Finance Committee.

 

 

Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting posted here  https://t.co/79NJ4026zD  

 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/DmQvi5Y4nW

 

Town budget page = https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

School budget page =  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

 

 Joint Budget SubCommittee Mtg - Apr 12, 2021

Talk Franklin -> The Start of Spring 2021: News & Updates in Franklin! (audio)

 FM #503 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 503 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Re-opening
• Vaccine local delivery for homebound?
• Library, what’s next?
• Senior Center st pats meal

• THE BLACK BOX has events in April
• Project Envoy continues (#ThinkFrankinFirst)

• Budget cycle
• Capital coming to Capital SubComm - Weds, Mar 31
• Joint Budget SubComm - TBD
• FinComm hearings in Apr (4/27-28-29, 5/4)
• Town Council hearings in May

Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 41 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie. 

*** Audio file = https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/The-Start-of-Spring-2021-News--Updates-in-Franklin-etqjl7/a-a53fd35

 

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

Town of Franklin COVID-19 page = https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/vaccination-and-covid-19-data 

Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 
Franklin Schools budget page  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

#Project Envoy - March schedule = https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/project-envoy/ 
#ThinkFranklinFirst gift cards = https://franklingiftcard.com/ 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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 -> The Start of Spring 2021: News & Updates in Franklin! (audio)

Work begins on the State FY 2022 budget

With the FY 2021 state budget finally approved, work begins on FY 2022

"Next Tuesday, Dec. 15, the House and Senate Ways and Means committees and the governor’s budget office will convene the annual “consensus” revenue hearing, where the Department of Revenue and other fiscal experts and economists will discuss the prospects for the economy and state revenues over the second half of fiscal 2021 and for fiscal 2022.

The virtual hearing will start at 11:30 a.m., with streaming for the public and press available through the Hearing & Events section of Legislature’s website. The event will be closed to the public, and the participants in State House Hearing Room A-2 will be practicing social distancing."

Continue reading the article online 
https://www.mma.org/consensus-revenue-hearing-on-dec-15-to-kick-off-fy22-budget-season/
 

How to listen in to the hearing  https://malegislature.gov/Events

Work begins on the State FY 2022 budget

FM #267 Joint Budget SubComm Mtg - 5/11/20 (audio)

FM #267 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 267 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting of May 11, 2020. The subcommittee is composed of members of the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee. The meeting was hosted on the “Zoom” Platform. The ‘normal’ disclaimer per Gov Baker’s Executive Order was not disclosed during the meeting by the Chair.

Each speaker is announced so you can follow along. The show notes include my notes via Twitter for this meeting as well as the agenda document.

The recording runs just about one hour, so let’s listen to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting discussing the FY 2021 budget. 

Audio file =  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDFJPBT7



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

My real-time reported notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/real-time-reporting-joint-budget.html

Agenda document https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/joint-budget-subcommittee-meeting-may-11.html

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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/
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 #267 Joint Budget SubComm Mtg - 5/11/20 (audio)

Real-time Reporting: Joint Budget Subcommittee - May 11, 2020

I took my notes via Twitter for this meeting. See bold items at end of Twitter stream for my summary (if BOLD not visible - last three tweets)

• Real-time reporting underway for Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting #jbsc0511
• Multiple Town Councilors attending but the restriction for only Subcommittee members to speak remains in place, the others can observe/listen but can not speak #jbsc0511
• Pellegri missing meeting due to health (recovering from surgery and doing well). #jbsc0511
• No stabilization funding left, balance was used for the FY2020 budget, no help there. Big factor is what State aid will be, used Gov Baker's as the starting point #jbsc0511
• Q on how the $118m came to be, what drove the split by department? On municipal side, could talk to more details, some things were already in play, no magical %. BoH has a minor increase but under the circumstances, they are being asked for more #jbsc0511
• Metrics looked for to help judge the numbers, actually only an increase of $1M over last year. Call data for police/fire available, likely to put an appendix, much has been published before but not likely all in 1 place #jbsc0511
• Phased approach, rocky road to the FY2021 budget, we'll look at again in 6 months or when things change, #jbsc0511 the structural budget issue is/was here, schools were looking for $3.9m over FY2020, when the town as a whole only gets $3m. And then the pandemic came!
• Superintendent providing overview on schools side, budget put together from level service, then layered with critical needs; some of them added, some not. This is what the SchComm recently approved #jbsc0511
• Updates to budget coming to SchComm Tuesday, revision coming, still being talked of, Sue happy to have sidebar on metrics being looked for. #jbsc0511 we need to tell the story, conversations were happening before pandemic
• FHS accreditation report had many pluses and raised some key issues; i.e. around providing support for new careers available, need to address gap and show progress; private school issue of taking cream of the crop, while Spec Ed falls on town #jbsc0511
• Bullying, vaping, mental health, behavioral challenges all of these are not just school problems, they are Community and society issues, they existed before the pandemic, look at a community when the schools go down #jbsc0511
• Schools have similar background on numbers showing history, Jamie will try to address these in the summary but the doc may not come out less than 100 pages, effectively a question of what value add is it? #jbsc0511
• The conversation needs to get to the community, there is only so much we (on the Town or Schools) can make adjustments to make a difference. The dynamics are not new #jbsc0511 there is something not right, the dog can't chase it's tail forever
• #jbsc0511 did not close out promptly at 6:30 Eastern that the meeting ended (1 hour duration) and mostly a waste of time. Metrics request mentioned last week; SchComm to see some revisions to their budget at meeting Tuesday, otherwise, nothing new
• Big Q remains: if cuts are coming, Where? What depts, Town or Schools? and given timeline of FinCom meetings 5/27-28, 6/2 - 6/4 and Town Council 6/17-18; what personnel (if any) need to be notified and what contractual requirements are there for such notifications? #jbsc0511
• #jbsc0511 if as mentioned, you either cut or add funding, cuts are seemingly inevitable; timeline as I recall is passed for possible override discussion/vote. so we'll suck it up and then look back in year (per Chair) and "say we did a good job"

The thread on Twitter can be found here (search for the tag #jbsc0511)
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23jbsc0511&src=recent_search_click

Real-time Reporting: Joint Budget Subcommittee - May 11, 2020

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting - May 11

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

(Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee)

May 11, 20205:30 PM

Meeting Hosted on the “Zoom” Platform
● Link to access the meeting:​ Click​​here​ then click “Open Zoom”
● Direct Link to Zoom meeting:​​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84748701152
● Call-in Phone Number: 1-929-205-6099​ Meeting ID: ​847-4870-1152​ then press #



Agenda
1. FY21 Budget Discussion

Document released for this agenda
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/05-11-2020_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda.pdf

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting - May 11

 

"it may not be pretty, but this is the situation we’re in”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"There are many possibilities for how lawmakers might tackle next year’s budget, Senate President Karen Spilka said, but the pandemic’s shocks to state revenues may mean the idea of passing one-month budgets while a full spending plan is developed would need to look different than it has in the past.

The economic turmoil created by the COVID-19 crisis began as Beacon Hill’s budget season approached - typically, the House passes its budget in April and the Senate in May. The final budget is due by July 1, the first day of the new fiscal year, though lawmakers have often negotiated beyond that deadline and passed “one-twelfth” budgets that allocate enough money for a month of operations, based on the previous year’s spending.

With the normal timeline thrown off course and the pandemic’s full economic impact not yet quantified, it’s still unclear when the Legislature will take up the fiscal 2021 budget or what its bottom line will be.

The set of emergency rules the House adopted this week gave the House Ways and Means Committee until July 1 to report out its version of the budget, and S&P Global Ratings said in a recent bulletin that it expects Massachusetts to adopt a fiscal 2021 budget this summer."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200508/spilka-local-budgets-may-not-be-pretty

The FY 2021 budget will definitely be a challenge for Franklin. It has been part of the weekly conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. The Budget Subcommittee met on Monday, May 4. The Joint Budget Subcommittee (School Comm budget team, Finance Committee, and Town Council Budget Subcommittee) will meet on Monday May 11.

Budget Subcommittee audio
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/budget-subcommittee-notes-may-4-2020.html

Talk Franklin with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen - May 1
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/fm-260-talk-franklin-with-jamie-hellen.html

The Town of Franklin budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

"it may not be pretty, but this is the situation we’re in”

 

FM #168 - Joint Budget Subcommittee Mtg 7/24/19 (audio)

FM #168

This internet radio show or podcast is number 168 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. The joint budget subcommittee is comprised of members of the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee and is supported by members of the Town Administration as well as the School District Central Office.

Plans started for an override to be put before the voters for the FY 2021 budget at the meeting held in June meeting. This meeting picks up and provides some updates on events since the prior meeting. (Audio recording of the June meeting is linked below)

The Legislative Conference Committee has submitted their budget to the Governor who has 10 days to review, modify and approve the whole, or parts thereof. What went to the Governor is looking good for Franklin’s budget situation given the word from Senate President Spilka and Representative Roy. (Both their letters were share here earlier, links also provided below)

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Sara Ahern jointly authored a memo to the Governor regarding Franklin’s interest in the FY 2020 budget. (Copy attached)

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen also walked through an abridged version of the Five Year Fiscal Forecast for Franklin. (Copy attached)

There will be an open planning session on Sep 11 at the Senior Center at 6:30 PM. Additional details will be included as that announcement comes out.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording (approx 45 minutes).


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

Additional References:
The Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting of June 2019
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/fm-167-joint-budget-subcommittee.html

Senate President Spilka letter
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/legislature-passes-balanced-budget-with.html

Representative Roy letter
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/this-consensus-fiscal-year-2020-budget.html

The joint memo to the Governor
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lNwBM3PwuDbx7D03ys_DPZouGOoVHqVZ/view?usp=sharing

The abridged 5 Year Fiscal Forecast
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FZiTDKj0sOVFi9tdcYLObOayEq8id8kN/view?usp=sharing


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

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning, or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind, and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

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

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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 = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

 

Legislature Passes Balanced Budget with Targeted Investments in Education, Housing, Environment

Per Senate President Karen E. Spilka:

"Today (Monday) the Massachusetts Legislature passed its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $43.1 billion, the budget makes major investments in education, housing, substance use disorder services, health care, and other areas while projecting a more than $476 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund – bringing the fund’s balance to more than $3 billion to safeguard the future of vital programs and services.

“I am proud of this fiscally responsible budget that supports the needs of individuals, families, and communities across the Commonwealth through thoughtful investments that increase local aid, strengthen our health care system and protect the environment,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “This budget bolsters our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis, invest in high-quality early education and care and makes another significant deposit into the state’s Stabilization Fund. These investments will have a long and lasting positive effect on the residents of Massachusetts. I want to thank Chair Michlewitz for his leadership and my colleagues in the House, especially those on the conference committee, who worked to put this package together.”

“Education is a top Senate priority, and I am therefore proud of the significant investments we make in K-12 education in the final FY2020 budget,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Not only have we voted to advance the largest year-over-year increase in Chapter 70 education funding in the last two decades, we have also made a substantial down payment towards funding the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC). In addition, we fund health and wellness in schools, and provide considerable increases in reimbursement for special education, charter schools, and regional school transportation. Finally, I am very pleased that the conference budget includes $10 million in new funding for mental and behavioral health. These funds will allow the Commonwealth to address the root causes of many of the challenges facing our residents, including substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment and schoolbullying, among other things. I commend all of the members of the conference committee for their very fine work on this budget.”

Continue reading the full copy of the press release on the Joint Budget for FY 2020
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczNnNMbzZDNFBwX1k4OVR0dktMQlFHVEFVR3Fr/view?usp=sharing

 While the bill was filed Sunday per the article the web page had not yet been updated as of Monday evening. The budget should find its way here eventually
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/ConferenceCommittee
 

https://malegislature.gov/Budget/ConferenceCommittee