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| Override summary in 3 parts per Al Charles |
The first pass of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget as presented to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting last week shows the Town of Franklin facing a $10.1 million deficit. The numbers will continue to be worked. As discussed during the meeting, breaking news that afternoon showed a reduction in the projected cost increase for health care that had just been received. That will be adjusted for future budget discussions.
The timeline for the budget development is as follows:
School Committee budget public hearing - March 19
School Committee votes on school budget recommendation - April 9
Town of Franklin FY 2025 budget scheduled for release - April 12
Joint Town Council & School Committee Mtg - Apr 24
Town Council meeting May 1 (determine yes or no for override, if yes, sets date & amount)
Finance Committee budget hearings - May 6, May 8, May 15 (vote)
Town Council budget hearings - May 22, May 23 (vote)
Override date - June 11 for $6.8M
If there were to be an override, the decision on “When?” is as critical as “How much”? Election requirements call for 35 days notification of a vote on a ballot question. Hence, a vote scheduled for June would have to be decided no later than early May
Town override page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy25-override-information
Town budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials
School budget page ->
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget
Recent meetings/interviews/documents (most recent on top, scroll down for prior)
3/06/24 - Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting
Joint Budget audio recap with Mercer, Conley & McNeill -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/tom-george-david-recap-joint-budget.html
Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33RO5xYoUg
Meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda_-_march_6_2024.pdf
Presentation document link -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-03-06_fy25_budget_slides_jbsc.pdf
3/05/24 - School Committee Superintendent’s budget
Chalkboard chat audio session recapping SchCmte meeting & Joint Budget meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/this-chalkboard-chat-recaps.html
Franklin TV's video recording of the meeting is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEe-JcCn_k
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
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| What's this about a possible override for Franklin? |
The Franklin Town Council approved the FY 2024 budget with a unanimous 9-0 vote on May 25, 2023. The Town has a balanced budget with minor increases to Police, Fire, and Senior Center funding. However, the Franklin school budget remains short $2.3M from what they requested.
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen has a plan to add about $700K to the school budget and that is up for Town Council vote on June 7, 2023. Assuming it passes, the schools still need to adjust their budget down by about $1.6M. The schools and Franklin are faced with hard choices.
It may seem like tough budget choices this year but according to the fiscal outlook it will get even tougher next year. Hence, now would be a good time to get involved and be part of the discussion to understand the cost drivers, and what can be done with what we have.
The one good item coming out of the Council and Finance Committee budget hearings seems to be a consensus on truly taking some action to resolve this systemic budget problem. The Joint Budget subcommittee will be tasked with that. The Subcommittee is composed of 4 Town Councilors, 3 from the School Committee and 3 from the Finance Committee. This group has its work cut out for themselves.
They don’t need to do it alone.
An informed resident can provide input to help this subcommittee make the best decision when it comes to advising the Town Council with our budget priorities for FY 2025 and beyond.
Also on the bright side, the 9th Annual Strawberry Stroll is scheduled for downtown Franklin Friday, June 9 from 4 to 9 PM (rain date June 10). Additional info on the event can be found on the Downtown Partnership page -> https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2023/06/many-activities-and-booths-set-for-june.html
Subscribe to Franklin.news to get the info on all these discussions and links to the budget documents, the video, and audio replays of the meetings as they progress.
Find us at www.franklin.news/ and subscribe for one email per day.
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| Franklin News Summary as of June 2, 2023 |
FM #993 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 993 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the opening 35 minutes or so for the Finance Committee meeting (and first of three budget hearings for the FY 2024 budget year). The meeting was held on Monday, May 8, 2023.
Quick recap:
The first 35 minutes or so are a “must listen” for any Franklinite to understand the scope of the revenue and cost drivers for the FY 2024 budget
Town administrator Jamie Hellen walks through the revenue and cost drivers for the budget effectively in 35 minutes or so
The “must listen” recording runs 37 minutes, so let’s listen to the Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provide the intro to the FY 2024 budget discussions at the Finance Committee meeting May 8, 2023.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-993-finance-cmte-must-listen-bh1-05-08-23--------------
Meeting agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_8_fin_com_agenda_0.pdf
FY 2024 budget information -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials
My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y71rUvK3Sdu79B7DnN5vIdC4tDa9zOXG/view?usp=share_link
Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee
YouTube recording => https://www.youtube.com/live/WHWL2ods9d8?feature=share
Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/XpAFzF4Z97irFB6s5
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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"
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| Spend a few minutes with this "must listen" summary from Town Administrator Hellen on FY 2024 |
FM #990 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 990 in the series.
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer in our Town Council Quarterbacking session. This is one of the series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior night’s Town Council meeting.
Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of May 3, 2023:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. New Section 12 Restaurant Common Victualer All Alcohol License and Approval of Katrina Psikarakis as the Manager - Here Come Two Greeks, LLC d/b/a Sierra’s Brick Oven Pizza & Pub, Located at 370 King Street
b. License Modification - Change of Manager: Rare Hospitality International, Inc. d/b/a Longhorn Steakhouse; Located at 250 Franklin Village Drive, Franklin, MA 02038
c. License Modification - Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers: 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC d/b/a 99 Restaurant, Located at 847 West Central Street
8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Presentation: FY22 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, Partner, Marcum LLP
b. Presentation: Charles River Pollution Control District - Elizabeth Taglieri, Executive Director Charles River Pollution Control District
c. An Introduction to PFAS Regulations – Water & Sewer Superintendent Doug Martin
9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Bylaw Amendment 23-897: Sewer Rate Increase - First Reading
b. Resolution 23-30: Authorizing the Borrowing of Money to Pay Costs Associated with the Franklin Sewer System Asset Management Plan (CWSRF 12541)
c. Resolution 23-31: Authority For Town Administrator to File Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Application
d. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-889: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 7., Part VI, Use Regulation Schedule: Residential Uses - Second Reading
e. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-890: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Section 51 - Second Reading
f. Resolution 23-32: Gift Acceptance - Town of Franklin for Red Brick School House (Donation of “Established” Sign)
g. Resolution 23-29: FY23 Capital Round 2
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Our conversation runs about 45 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council Quarterbacking session recorded May 4, 2023
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-990-town-council-quarterbacking-05-04-23
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The agenda doc can also be found on the Town of Franklin page ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/04/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-for-may.html
My notes in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gWiBSq_Q8vMNIUKv32jeLQtMypvF8fTb/view?usp=share_link
Franklin TV meeting video ->
https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og?feature=share
--------------
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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
