FM #1436 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1436 in the series.
This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Monday, April 28, 2025. All 8 members of the Committee were present in Council Chambers for the first of the series of Budget Hearings for FY 2026.
This session covered Education; Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie and Franklin Public Schools. Only Franklin was there to present in person. The Chair almost closed the meeting without mentioning the other two budget items.
Quick recap:
School Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Interim Business Administrator Jana Milotti made the presentation supported at different points by Dr Dutch and Asst Supt Paula Morano
The slides of the presentation can be found -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5586512/4_28_25_FY26_FinCom_Budget_Hearing__1_.pdf
FY 2026 School budget The school budget fits within the Town allocation which assumes a successful override vote on June 3. The school budget is an increase over last year by $2.9M
Redistricting brought significant savings to the tune of $3.1M
If the override fails, $2M would be cut from this budget (per current Town documented allocation) resulting in no decrease in sports or transportation fees, staff reductions, higher class sizes, etc. See the photo of slide page 25
Tuesday night the budget items for public works and public safety are up for discussion. The meeting will be in the 3rd floor training room.
The recording runs about 53 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1436-tof-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-1-04-28-25/
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Franklin TV recording available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2k6pGMSzeU
Finance Cmte agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282025-1700
My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_SkYWy0EmCwPxh8w_PRvUJI2QDbclXKD/view?usp=drive_link
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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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