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

School Committee meeting hears of FY 2025 budget proposal (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday,. March 5, 2024. The agenda doc can be found online -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-5-24.pdf

The packet folder containing other documents released for the meeting can also be found online ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/march-5-2024-school-committee-meeting

Franklin TV's video recording of the meeting is available for replay -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEe-JcCn_k

The budget presentation was scheduled to be a key item on the agenda. The budget doc is not yet available on the Schools' page. It will also be part of the Joint Budget Committee meeting Wednesday evening, March 6 at 7:00 PM

 

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting starts discussion on Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Model - “We’re All in this Together”

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

(Members of the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee)

March 6, 2024 = 7:00 PM

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

Agenda

1. 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

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen writes:

"The Perfect Storm has arrived. In anticipation of the March 6th meeting, we have prepared a preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget model based on the information we have to date. The deficit, established from initial assumptions in the budget model, is $10.095 million or just a hair under $10.1 million. 

FY25 Budget Process Update
We have met with every department and received preliminary assessments from outside entities (Animal Control, MECC, CRPC District, Retirement Board, etc.) that are reflected in the town's budget.
We have included Governor Healey’s H1 budget numbers into the model which represents a $76,782 decrease in local aid, however we do not expect any substantial increases in local aid by the end of July. Although the legislative session ends July 31st, we expect the FY25 state budget will last deep into the summer, thus we should not expect an avalanche of additional state aid to arrive to solve any of these financial pressures. Furthermore, the Chapter 70 formula and how it relates to Franklin has been well documented and discussed for many years. We need to keep this in mind as we continue budget discussions. 

In the coming weeks, line items will continue to be altered as new information becomes available through mid-April when our formal budget is released, tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2024. The Finance Committee budget hearings are May 6th (General Government, Culture & Recreation, Senior Center, Benefits, Debt/Interest, etc.), May 8th (Public Safety, Public Works, Inspections) and May 15th (Education). Town Council budget hearings are May 22nd and May 23rd. 

We will present a new five year fiscal forecast with the April 12th budget submission. 

Please visit the budget website for the process and archival budget materials"

The full agenda and supporting docs can be found ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda_-_march_6_2024.pdf

 

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting starts discussion on Preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Model - “We’re All in this Together”

In this Chalkboard Chat session, we talk of the School Budget as released for the Feb 13 School Committee Mtg (audio)

FM #1150 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1150 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, February 26, 2024. 

The School Committee had their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. We recap that meeting in our discussion. 

Recall that Tuesday, a snow storm was forecast, school canceled, the meeting went virtual and the snow didn’t fully come to pass in the amount expected.

Topics:

• SAFE Coalition Overview - Jennifer Knight-Levin

• Budget Overview

• Costa Rica Field Trip Proposal

• Italy Field Trip Proposal

• Joint Budget Subcommittee of March 6 starts the formal process to develop the FY 2025 budget

The recording runs about 43 minutes so let’s listen to my “chalkboard chat” with School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1150-chalkboard-chat-02-26-24

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan  callaghand@franklinps.net 

School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

2/13/24 meeting Agenda doc  ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_2-13-24docx.pdf 

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/february-13-2024-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpgZMxaUY0I 

The “Chalkboard Chat” image was the result of a joint collaboration with Mickayla Callaghan. Thank you!

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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"

In this Chalkboard Chat session, we talk of the School Budget

Will you sign the One Franklin petition to put an override request on the ballot?

via One Franklin: signatures looked for on the 

"one tool we have for getting this on the ballot this budget season, June 2024. 

We (One Franklin) will campaign hard in April and May. 

Otherwise, if we wait until November, the schools will suffer, and the problem will increase requiring an even larger number. "

Sign here to support the override election be held THIS budget season!

More info about the One Franklin group can be found on their web page ->    https://onefranklinma.com/

Will you sign the One Franklin petition to put an override request on the ballot?

Schools reduce capital budget request, Capital Budget Subcmte approves all votes (but one) by 4-0 (audio)

FM #1146 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 978 in the series. 

This session of the radio show is the audio recording of the Franklin, MA Town Council Capital Budget Subcommittee meeting conducted on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. All four members of the subcommittee were present: Chair Debbie Pellegri, Vice Chair Bob Dellorco, Ted Cormier-leger, Brian Chandler. 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti, Treasurer/Collector Kerri Bertone, Superintendent Lucas Giguere, along with almost all of the Town Department leaders (at least those with capital budget requests).

This meeting covered the first round of capital budgeting. As noted during the session, there is about $1.5M remains of “Free Cash” to be allocated during round 2.

You can follow along with the agenda as each department section was covered and line item by line item, votes were conducted (with a few exceptions) on each line item. Only one vote did NOT finish 4-0. That being the vote to fund the town/school website upgrade which passed 3-1 (Cormier-Leger cast the “no” vote). 

As noted when I shared the agenda, while this proposal was reviewed by the Finance Committee on Feb 7, it has been modified since then. It was also adjusted further during the meeting with School Supt Lucas Giguere reducing their school capital request from $1.2 M to $900+K. The capital budget as adjusted now moves forward to the full Town Council for their meeting on February 28.

The recording runs about just over 2 hours minutes, so let’s listen to this capital budget discussion. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1146-town-council-capital-budget-subcmte-mtg-02-21-24

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Agenda document ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/capital_budget_subcommittee_agenda_-_feb_21_2024.pdf 

My notes via Twitter ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_3lpxnItRZ54gVEfc06Gu4F5FIGydByY/view?usp=drive_link 

Franklin TV video for the Finance Committee meeting of Feb 7 -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ULrmiu9zaew?si=tdKlf5BEx86wnl55

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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"

Capital Budget Subcmte to review adjustment to what FinCom already approved - Feb 21 at 10:00 AM

Capital Budget Subcmte to review adjustment to what FinCom already approved - Feb 21 at 10:00 AM

Capital Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

February 21, 2024 - 10:00 AM

Discussion:

1. FY24 Capital Plan “Round 1”

a. Town Administrator Memo

b. FY24 Department Summary Requests & Capital Plans

c. Quotes

2. Next Meeting Date

Full agenda doc (note, no remote participation scheduled for this meeting)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/capital_budget_subcommittee_agenda_-_feb_21_2024.pdf

Capital Budget Subcmte to review adjustment to what FinCom already approved - Feb 21 at 10:00 AM

School budget subcommittee gets preview of the 4 scenarios being worked for FY 2025 budget (audio)

FM #1141 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1141 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. 

Chair Dave McNeill opened the meeting. School Committee members Dr Paul Griffith and KP Sompally participated. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Business Manager Dr Bob Dutch, Asst Business Administrator Janaina Vasconcelos-Melotti also participated. 

Quick recap

• Subcommittee meeting starts a few minutes late. Supt Giguere provides an overview of the capital budget process and then expands upon the preview we're about to see. There is a budget workshop on Friday with the school principals, another update planned for February. 

• Dr Dutch walks through the details of the budget development process. Key slide provides a preliminary look at the various budget scenarios. Lots to digest within this slide. More info coming as the budget workshop (mentioned earlier) and further work through Feb leading to the view at the Feb 13 School Committee meeting

• Four basic scenarios reviewed; 

• (1) “less than level service” this would require cuts and reductions, exactly what will be fleshed out over the next weeks. 

• (2) “level service” or survive mode, what would this be like? Feedback also asked “Ok if this is ‘survive,’ what happens next year? 

• (3) “Level service plus” to stabilize the level service and partially restore programs previously cut (i.e. middle school activities and the late bus to support them), 

• (4) “level service and programing thrive” this builds upon #3 restore more positions previously cut and create bandwidth to innovate.

• Meeting ends with additional questions and discussion unasked as it was time to get downstairs for the full committee meeting opening at 7 PM (which actually started late due to this being late)

The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to the Budget Subcommittee meeting of Jan 23, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1141-franklin-ma-school-cmte-budget-subcmte-mtg-01-23-24

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Budget Subcommittee agenda

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/1-23-24_agenda-budgetsubcom.pdf

The current operating budget or FY 2024 Budget information -> https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 

The FY 2025 budget info being developed with this set of meetings and a new link will be added here https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget 

Photos of the slides discussed -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/z7kg8bYxECezQ86v8 

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1efrAyKeGBJSIck0d1wXRdnmg_w3bhdFq/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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"

School Committee Budget Subcommittee previews capital budget requests and approves (audio)

FM #1132 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1132 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Budget Subcommittee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024. The meeting was conducted in the 3rd floor training room. Remote participation was enabled for this session that no one took advantage of. 

Chair Dave McNeill opened the meeting. School Committee members Dr Paul Griffith and KP Sompally participated. Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Business Manager Dr Bob Dutch also participated.

Quick recap

• Ready to live report on the FPS budget subcmte mtg about to begin, a short one before a workshop and then the full regular School committee meeting, so a busy night. Follow along with the agenda doc https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/1-9-24_agenda-budgetsubcom.pdf  

• Supt Giguere provides an overview of the capital budget process for this new group, Dr Dutch to walk through the details of the requests. This is preliminary to the FinCom meeting Weds night, and then to Town Council capital budget subcmte before final Town Council approval

• Special ed van, middle school math curriculum,and then technology (Chromebooks, laptops, etc) among the items on this request in priority order

• Have an existing 4 year plan for capital requests, looking to add the 5th year to make it formal at 5 and roll forward from that

• Discussion on options, lease vs buy, choice of extended warranty vs. purchase, at some point these will come due, period

• Motion to approve capital request as discussed, second, passes, 3-0 Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0

The show notes contain a link to the agenda and to my notes.

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to the Budget Subcommittee meeting of Jan 9, 2024. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1132-school-cmte-budget-subcmte-mtg-01-09-24

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Budget Subcommittee agenda

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

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

Capital budget doc for Finance Committee 01/10/24

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/_2024-01-05_memo_fy24_capital_program_fin_comm.pdf 

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tMUBEmIEbKBdO93pMSBl5OgVHJWW0HT/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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"

School Committee Budget Subcommittee previews capital budget requests and approves (audio)