Slowing Revenue Growth Derails Automatic Income Tax Cut

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Slowing Revenue Growth Derails Automatic Income Tax Cut

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Ann Dufresne-DOR Communications Director on 11/19/12

The State Department of Revenue (DOR) recently certified that there is insufficient tax revenue growth under the terms of a  2002 state law that would trigger a 0.05 percentage point cut in the Part B indivdual income tax rate beginning in 2013. As part of the legal process determined by the Legislature, an automatic tax cut would go into effect if the following thresholds in revenue growth were exceeded:

• Inflation-adjusted baseline revenue growth for the previous fiscal year surpassed 2.5% and,
• There was positive inflation-adjusted baseline revenue growth in each of the consecutive three-month periods starting in August and ending in November in the current calendar year compared to the same consecutive three-month periods in the previous calendar year.

DOR certified on September 6th that FY2012 inflation-adjusted baseline revenue increased 2.77% over the previous fiscal year. The agency also certified that revenue growth was 4.12% for the first growth period and 1.88% for the second growth period. However, revenue growth was negative (-1.29%) during the third period so the 5.25% Part B individual income tax rate will remain the same for 2013.

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

Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century ‘Edge City’

VIA APPIA PRESS has announced the release of Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century ‘Edge City.’

Welcome to Franklin, Massachusetts, a town that to a casual visitor might appear to be nothing more than an ‘ordinary’ Greater Boston suburb; maybe even the kind of place where, “Nothing much ever happens.” But don’t be fooled. This is the entirely true story of how one town transformed from a small hamlet – a precinct in a frontier community -- into one of the fastest growing municipalities in America; an ‘edge city’ built around an Interstate. It’s a story of religious extremists, farmers, factory workers, entrepreneurs, anarchists, and eccentrics. It’s a story more than 300 years in the making and it has never been told before in one volume...until now.

Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century ‘Edge City’ is 204 pages in length, featuring more than 70 illustrations, and retails for $19.99. The book can be ordered through www.viaappiapress.com.


About the Author
Eamon McCarthy Earls is a longtime resident of Franklin, and a graduate of Franklin High School, Class of 2012. Eamon has been involved with the Franklin Historical Commission since 2010. Realizing the need for a new, updated history of Franklin, Eamon built on his experience in writing and researching his previous book; Wachusetts: How Boston’s Quest for Water Changed Four Towns and a Way of Life and tapped a wide range of sources, including extensive interviews with local residents, to complete Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century ‘Edge City.’

"things changed pretty quickly"

The destruction left by Hurricane Sandy in the NY and NJ area is immense. Two Franklin fire fighters got to help at a shelter in Brooklyn, NY recently and the Milford Daily News recaps their experience with this article.

In New York City, Smith said, the darkness was eerie and disquieting. 

"I didn’t expect that," he said. 

Smith said he never realized the scope of Sandy’s wrath. 

"While we were deployed, I saw no news; I heard no news, so I wasn’t even aware of how bad the devastation was until I got home," he said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107412492/Franklin-firefighters-help-out-after-Hurricane-Sandy#ixzz2CfArD0yf


To contribute to the relief effort you can donate to the American Red Cross here or to this Occupy Sandy effort for those in New Jersey.

"looking forward to a new legislative session"

Roy, who spent 14 years as a Franklin town official, serving on the Town Council, as well as the Master Plan Committee and School Committee, said his main focus will be jobs and the economy. 

He also wants to help speed completion of the Franklin High School project and to increase local aid during the upcoming session. 

Roy hopes to serve on the education and criminal justice committees. 

"I am delighted to be a part of the team and I hope to make it stronger," he said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107412470/Milford-area-lawmakers-setting-new-goals#ixzz2CfDlIc8S

DCR issues ice safety tips

Given the variations in weather we have seen, it is not too early to prepare for ice.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

DCR issues ice safety tips

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 11/18/12

As winter approaches, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has issued safety tips about ice.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

FHS Girls Soccer - Championship game highlights (video)

Here are video highlights of the game Friday night. The Franklin High School girls team won the state championship with a 2-1 victory!





Thanks to Marianne Lonati for sharing this on Facebook

Related post on the game
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-high-school-girls-soccer-2012.html

Reminder: Turkey Trot Family 5K Fun Run - Thanksgiving morning

There is still time to register to run on Thursday morning. I like to do a race on Thanksgiving, not so much to race, but to get out for a good run and have a reason to eat well later.

Thanks to the efforts of Feed the Need, this event is a win-win. You get to run or walk and the proceeds go to help the Franklin Food Pantry.

-------
If you are a runner, or walker you can help the Franklin Food Pantry.

Registration, course map and additional race information can be found at http://www.feedtheneed.org/

If you would like to organize a collection in your neighborhood, you can print out this flyer to use

"The The Impotence of Proofreading," by TAYLOR MALI

Time for a little fun with language. Words are important. Using the right one at the right time is so critical for success. Taylor's performance takes liberty with proof reading to an extreme (and is full of double entendres).



On the stage with Taylor Mali is Billy Collins, a good and humorous poet in his own right.

Free flu clinic - Tuesday - Nov 20

There is a free flu clinic being offered on Tuesday, Nov 20th. Details about the clinic at the Milford Senior Center are shown in the attached flyer.

In the News: vacant homes

Franklin is listed as having 15 of these properties

Vacant homes cause problems for towns and the market

by Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Franklin High School Girls Soccer: 2012 State Champions!

The Franklin High School girls soccer team are State Champs! Milford Daily News provides the write up on the championship game Friday night.

Both the Franklin and Nashoba Regional went into Friday night’s Division 1 state final at Worcester State University without a loss this fall. The South sectional champion Panthers touted an impressive 21-0-1 mark, while the Central champion Chieftains from Central Mass. came in at 18-0-4. 

Thanks in large part to the efforts of sophomore Taylor Cogliano and senior Kristi Kirshe, people will be dancing in the streets of Franklin as the Panthers captured the first girls soccer state championship in school history by earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nashoba. 

"We have been a very good program for a long time," said Franklin coach Tom Geysen. "We have been close several times to going over the top. If you had asked me in August, I would have said we will see where we end up because we have six freshmen and nine sophomores. This is a credit to them."

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/editorspick_mobile/x35740412/Franklin-2-Nashoba-1-The-best-around#ixzz2CTguGzaZ

New dorm scheduled to open in December

The new dormitory at Dean College will open in December. The Milford Daily News provides a summary:

The $9 million project broke ground in the spring and has stayed on budget. Only some interior and landscape work remains, according to Brian Kelly, Dean College’s assistant vice president for capital planning and facilities. 

The Planning Board approved the project in February. 

On Friday, there were some construction crews working behind the dorm, as students heading to class passed by. 

Located on West Central Street, a stone’s throw from the Franklin Historical Museum, the dorm will address overcrowding on campus. It is part of the school’s long-term design plan.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107411783/New-Dean-College-dorm-will-open-in-Franklin-in-December#ixzz2CTiKbZMP

Construction progress: Sep 2012

Nov 2012

MassBudget: MA Among States with Highest Income Inequality

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Massachusetts among States with Highest Inequality The gap between Massachusetts's richest and poorest households is the 8th highest in the nation, according to a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. Comparing income inequality in all fifty states over the last 3 decades, the report finds that: As of 2008-2010 (the most recent data available), the highest-income 20% of households in Massachusetts had incomes over 8 times larger than the lowest-income 20%.* From the late 1970s to the mid 2000s, this gap grew faster in Massachusetts than in every state but one (CT).* Income for the top 20% of households in Massachusetts more than doubled between the late 1970s and the mid 2000s (adjusted for inflation). By contrast, the bottom 20% saw virtually no income growth over that same period.* To provide a fuller picture of the situation in Massachusetts, MassBudget has put together an accompanying slideshow, with additional information about statewide inequality, poverty, the minimum wage, and more. Read PULLING APART, a joint report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute View MassBudget's Slideshow PULLING APART IN MASSACHUSETTS *The numbers cited in this email are available in Table 1 (pg. 17), Table 8 (pg. 35), and Table 7 (pg. 33) of Pulling Apart. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Pack 126: Annual Pancake Breakfast

Saturday Dec. 1 from 8:00 - 11:00 AM

Elks Hall 1077 Pond St. Franklin

Pictures with Santa for $3

Themed raffle baskets $1 per ticket

All you can eat pancake breakfast $6 per person, children 2 and under and scouts in uniform are free.

2012 Annual St. John's Christmas Fair

This year St. John's Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, December 1^st from 9am - 3pm in the St. John's Parish Hall located at 237 Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA.  

There will be homemade gift baskets, Cookie Walk, pastry table, as well as hot soup and coffee to enjoy.  

Pictures with Santa as well as other activities for the kids!  

Join us for a fun day! 

In the News: NationalGrid, all night party, Division 1

Franklin officials to meet with National Grid, again

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

All night party parent meeting set in Franklin

by Zachary Comeau/Daily News correspondent

Local student-athletes agree to go Division I

by Jessica Trufant/STAFF WRITER

Under budget and a gem!

The Milford Daily News article on the School Building Committee update of the new Franklin High School is here

New Franklin High will be a gem, architect says

by Matt Tota/Daily News Staff

The new media center and library as depicted in design documents.

My live reporting of the Schools Building Committee meeting can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/live-reporting-high-school-update.html

and here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/live-reporting-question-and-answer.html

The agenda document for the meeting:

"substantial long-term consequences"

This morning, while reading of the new high school building project and construction phases, there is also an article touting research on the cost of high school dropouts. An interesting combination of articles!

In a push for more programs to re-enroll students who have dropped out, the education research group the Rennie Center Tuesday released a report on the statewide impact of dropouts. 

The average Bay State dropout costs taxpayers $122,000 over the course of his or her lifetime, the report said, through cash assistance and benefits including food stamps, health care and housing subsidies.

Read more: With dropouts, taxpayers also pay a price - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x35739381/With-dropouts-taxpayers-also-pay-a-price#ixzz2CHrFSrb1

Additional information on the study released can be found here
http://www.renniecenter.org/events/121113_event.html

The Complete presentation by the Rennie Center can be viewed here: