Franklin Police: Teen accidentally shoots friend with BB
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Franklin, MA
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Gas tax collections holding steady; rate of increase slowing
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 5/5/11
Two months ago, DOR published a blog post noting that price spikes in gasoline had not caused a decline in consumption. That remains true today after reviewing gasoline excise tax collections for March and April.
The two months' combined collection is $96.8 million, which is $200,000 more than the same two months a year ago. Through the end of April, year-to-date gas tax collection is at $493 million. up $6.4 million from a year ago.
It is fair to say, however, that the rate of increase in gas consumption, as measured by gasoline tax collection, has slowed down. In the first six months of FY11, collections were up $5 million. In the ensuing four months (January-April of 2011) which correspond to the period in which gasoline prices have gone up, the increase over a year ago is just a little over $1 million.
Those interested in pouring over these numbers should visit DOR's Blue Book, published monthly, to review individual month and year-to-date collections of a variety of tax collections and other revenue sources. (The April edition should be up in a few days.)
This is probably a good time to review how gas tax revenues are used. As a result of reform of the state's transportation system in 2009, gasoline excise tax revenue goes into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, along with registry fees and .385 percent of the sales tax. The fund is used to pay debt service associated with highway maintenance and construction projects and provides funding for the operation of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
Revenue from the gasoline tax, which is 21-cents per gallon, goes almost entirely (99.85 percent) into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. The balance of fifteen-hundreths of one percent is credited to the Inland Fish and Game Fund.
One of the best explainers of the new MassDOT and its funding sources appeared in Gov. Patrick's FY11 budget proposal.
The state gasoline tax of 21-cents per gallon is not the only tax paid at the pump. The state also collects 2.5-cents per gallon to help fund the cleanup of underground storage tanks; this money goes into the state's General Fund from which the Legislature makes appropriations to pay for cleanups. And the federal government collects a federal gas tax of 18.4-cents per gallon.
The Tax Foundation publishes annually a ranking of gasoline taxes by state. Massachusetts is ranked 27th from the top out of the 50 states.
The two months' combined collection is $96.8 million, which is $200,000 more than the same two months a year ago. Through the end of April, year-to-date gas tax collection is at $493 million. up $6.4 million from a year ago.
It is fair to say, however, that the rate of increase in gas consumption, as measured by gasoline tax collection, has slowed down. In the first six months of FY11, collections were up $5 million. In the ensuing four months (January-April of 2011) which correspond to the period in which gasoline prices have gone up, the increase over a year ago is just a little over $1 million.
Those interested in pouring over these numbers should visit DOR's Blue Book, published monthly, to review individual month and year-to-date collections of a variety of tax collections and other revenue sources. (The April edition should be up in a few days.)
This is probably a good time to review how gas tax revenues are used. As a result of reform of the state's transportation system in 2009, gasoline excise tax revenue goes into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, along with registry fees and .385 percent of the sales tax. The fund is used to pay debt service associated with highway maintenance and construction projects and provides funding for the operation of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
Revenue from the gasoline tax, which is 21-cents per gallon, goes almost entirely (99.85 percent) into the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. The balance of fifteen-hundreths of one percent is credited to the Inland Fish and Game Fund.
One of the best explainers of the new MassDOT and its funding sources appeared in Gov. Patrick's FY11 budget proposal.
The state gasoline tax of 21-cents per gallon is not the only tax paid at the pump. The state also collects 2.5-cents per gallon to help fund the cleanup of underground storage tanks; this money goes into the state's General Fund from which the Legislature makes appropriations to pay for cleanups. And the federal government collects a federal gas tax of 18.4-cents per gallon.
The Tax Foundation publishes annually a ranking of gasoline taxes by state. Massachusetts is ranked 27th from the top out of the 50 states.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
"Cuts have to be made"
The budget hearings continued Thursday evening and spent a good deal of their time on the Department of Public Works:
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1560709786/Franklin-hopes-to-address-snow-budget-gap#ixzz1LYtisrBs
The budget hearings close out Monday night with the Library, Schools and Fire Dept are reviewed. The Town Council conducts their budget hearings Jun 8 and 9 to have an approved budget before the Fiscal Year 2012 begins July 1, 2011.
These cuts are real. On this time line, there is no opportunity for an override to come before the voters to approve an increase in taxes to avoid the cuts.
Franklin, MA
The department has lost more than 12 positions over the past six years while taking over maintenance of school grounds. That has reduced its ability to fix potholes, sweep streets, prepare fields and complete other tasks simultaneously, Cantoreggi said.
"Our priorities have to be adjusted," Cantoreggi said. "Our response time is increasing. I think people are starting to notice."
The department will also have a few less clerk hours as part of a townwide reorganization and reduction of clerk positions, Nutting said.
Roche, the committee's chairman, said the department is an example of the difference between the town and a business. Companies lay off workers when business slows down but "we lay off people and have more demand for services."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1560709786/Franklin-hopes-to-address-snow-budget-gap#ixzz1LYtisrBs
The budget hearings close out Monday night with the Library, Schools and Fire Dept are reviewed. The Town Council conducts their budget hearings Jun 8 and 9 to have an approved budget before the Fiscal Year 2012 begins July 1, 2011.
These cuts are real. On this time line, there is no opportunity for an override to come before the voters to approve an increase in taxes to avoid the cuts.
Franklin, MA
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda - May 5, 2011
Part 3 of the budget hearing for Fiscal 2012 continues Thursday evening. The agenda showing which department budgets are scheduled for review this evening is shown in the document below:
FinCom Agenda 5/05/2011
Prior session agendas:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda_03.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
Franklin, MA
FinCom Agenda 5/05/2011
Prior session agendas:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda_03.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
Franklin, MA
Fluoride Choice vote in Franklin this Friday
You are receiving this email because you live and/or work in Franklin and because you care about your individual health freedom.
Only you can consent to receiving a medication. No one has a right to force one on you.
This Friday morning at 10:00 am, there will be a vote of the Franklin Health Board on whether or not to continue the old 1970 policy of forced fluoridation of the people in Franklin. Ingesting fluoride ought to be a personal decision, not a government decision.
For the background on this story, see www.franklinminutemen.com/id2.html
I will be representing fluoride choice at this Friday's health board meeting. If you are able to join me, that might make a difference in the vote's outcome. The meeting will be in the small conference room right next to the clerk's office. I know it's a work day, but standing room only would truly rock!
Please forward to other Franklin residents who care about their medical rights.
Thanks,
Rich Aucoin
"They're not all layoffs but they are degrading or reducing ... services"
"This budget has me very concerned," Town Councilor Tina Powderly said. "It's the same old story. It's death by 1,000 cuts. It's great the schools came in with a conservative budget, but they came in with a conservative budget because they cut 14 (positions)."
In addition to the school jobs, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting's recommended cuts include two police officers, two firefighters, four Department of Public Works jobs and 5.5 library jobs.
The proposed $89.2 million budget represents a 1.2 percent increase over this year's $88.1 million budget.
Cuts have to be made despite the budget going up due to decreased state aid (down about $300,000), local revenue (down about $200,000) and $2 million less in school stimulus money. About a 12 percent rise in health insurance costs and increased contracted salary hikes have led to a rise in the school budget, administrators have said.
The town's Finance Committee is scheduled to continue its budget hearing today and Monday. The council's budget hearings are June 8 and 9.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1760690278/with-links#ixzz1LTBVXJWW
Franklin, MA
Garden Registration is Officially Open!
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Growing In Franklin by Franklin Community Gardens on 5/4/11
Calling all prospective Gardeners!
The wait is OVER!
THE LOTTERY IS OPEN!
Hooray!
Hop on over to the Franklin Rec page and sign up! click on the words Online registration, below:
Community Garden
Sign up online for a plot to grow your own vegetables at the King Street Community Gardens. Or volunteer to help out on Build Day (May 7, either 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm). Register on our Online registration
Important: when the link opens, Click on "Register for Activities", then select "Community Garden".
How's it going to work? You ask.
Easy.
Sign up for the lottery online, hurry up, get your name in or register for your community group because the deadline for the drawing is May 23rd at 3:00 p.m. It is free to enter the lottery, winners will be responsible for the $40 per season charge for a plot. A "plot" in this garden is actually a 4 foot by 10 foot by approx. 24" high raised bed, filled with a mix of organic compost and screened loam. The sides will be untreated spruce.
If you can not or choose not to do this online, you may go to the Franklin Recreation Department during business hours.
On Friday May 23rd, we will do the lottery drawing in public at the Franklin Community Garden Committee meeting held at the Franklin Municipal Bldg on East Central St, room 205, at 6:30 p.m. You will be notified if you or your group was assigned a space, and you will be charged the $40. You do not need to be present for the drawing, but there might be, like, cookies....Just saying.
The Garden's Official Opening Day is lined up for Saturday, May 28th, weather permitting.
Thank you to everyone who has helped bring this project closer to reality. The major "pinch me" moment will come on Saturday morning, Build Day, but as I walked through King Street recently through the stakes and over to the water pipe and mentally surveyed the site, I about lost it. Clicking on the Build Day sign up form and seeing new names---out of the woodwork, out of the ether---Names attached to People who will be digging and building and hauling and creating and making and growing and sharing.
That is community building, my friends. Franklin, you totally rock.
If you are just hearing about this new community garden now, hope you can join us on Saturday, May 7th for Build Day. Click on the top of this page to volunteer---Sign Up for Build Day---and meet us at the park on Saturday.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Growing In Franklin using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
We need your help for Build Day!
Hello everyone,
The first ever Franklin Community Garden is happening and we are full steam ahead. We are building the 46 beds this Saturday, May 7th and we need your help! We will build them and then fill them up with that gorgeous soil! There are two 3-hour shifts to choose from unless you want to help the whole day! No amazing "building skills" required. All the wood will be pre-cut, so if you know how to hold a piece of wood, then you are skilled enough to come help!
Click this link: https://spreadsheets0.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dFFBSGhPMWFXdG5kTl9faXFGS3lCLWc6MQ OR visit www.franklincommunitygardens.org to sign up by clicking the word "Form".
Hope to see you this Saturday to help make Franklin an even greener place!
In health and sawdust,
Franklin Community Gardens
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