Franklin Matters

Friday, April 17, 2009

"You will gain so much knowledge in a short period of time"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Apr 17, 2009 @ 01:20 AM

FRANKLIN —

During the start of the Finance Committee's budget hearings for town departments last night, Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting said he anticipates Franklin will run a deficit of $5 million to $6 million for fiscal 2011.

"I have no doubt about it," Nutting said.

Wage and health care co-pay concessions made by all town and school staff are only a one-year stopgap, he said.

"We're building ourselves into a hole for fiscal 2011 - but the other alternative is to lay off 62 teachers and about 35 municipal employees," Nutting said.

Read the full article about the Finance Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News

Read all the live reporting posts covering the same meeting here

Finance Committee - 04/16/09

The collection of live reporting posts from the Finance Committee meeting to start the annual budget review held on Thursday 4/16/09

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Live reporting - Cultural, Animal

Cultural Council

starter funds for matching grant to provide support to local artists in the community

Animal Control

in conjunction with Bellingham, salary paid by Bellingham, we pay certain expenses and gain 24x7 coverage

been going on for 15 years, well oiled and operating

Expansion could be considered but the kennel size would need to be increased
Would cost more to add to the kennel than it would generate in revenue to offset

end of budget hearings

Reminder - Financial Planning Committee meeting being held at Horace Mann/Mercer Auditorium on Monday April 27th, 7:00 PM

Earth Day - 9:00 AM on Saturday April 18th, start at Beaver Pond

motion to adjourn

Live reporting - Historical, Memorial, CATV

Historical Commission

Jeff - keeping documents up to date, pay a few bills for the historical commission

had increased from 1,000 to 2,000 in anticipation of the new building up and running. It hasn't yet but it will be used fully once the new building is open.

Memorial Day

purchase of flags for the graves to be put on by volunteers

CATV

We have to budget a minimum amount per subscriber
used to offset the costs of the broadcasts going out over the air waves
set by the license

Live reporting - Treasurer/Collector - Debt

Jim Dacey -

Debt
FY 2010 debt peaks, debt stabilization fund set up years ago to handle this peak

(hand out to be updated/included later)

We don't have a lot of room in this part of the budget, these are legal obligations, they need to be paid.

3.5% is reserved for mortgage payment, so we always have room for capital without having to raise tax rates.

The building lasts 60 years, we'll pay it off in 17 years and maintain it.

The police station and Parmenter School are fully paid off.

15 years ago, the call provision was not written into the note at that time.

The Four Corners Building when it gets sold, the funds would be held to pay off the bond until 2014. The excess amount over the purchase price would be held in reserve for use on other capital expenses. Likely to pay off the library and look at other uses of the remainder of the funds.

Treasurer/Collector

New expense item, $35,000 for attorney's title search on foreclosures
Really moving the line from another section of the budget due to proper accounting rules

Reduced 25,000 bills down to 17,000 envelopes to mail (postage savings) with senior services.

Lockbox services handle about 80,000 pieces. Even items dropped in the box at the building or handed over the counter get sent out to the lockbox. They image and index, it makes a really good tool to use.

Live reproting - Senior Center

Karen Alves

we provide more than twice the services than you see here
shifted salary of part time bus driver to revolving account using the revenue from the trips to cover the salary
TriValley Elder services we cut this year. They are funded via other sources so it won't affect the services currently being delivered.

How many volunteer hours do we provide?
10,700 hours

The amount of services you provide for the amount you get is amazing.

Nothing has been broached with the other towns in regionalization of services.

The Senior Center benefits from the tax workoff program. Residents over 60 can work in Town departments and gain credit at minimum

The amount of grants received to support the Senior Center operations is approx. $120,000 which would effectively double the existing budget.

Live reporting - Public Health Services

David E. McKearney, R.S.

nursing services for the community, flu clinics, home visits as mandated by the Dept of Health.

It is a good deal for Franklin, we could not do this internally for less.