Hi everyone,
Over the past few weeks, many of my friends and neighbors have asked good questions about this Tuesday’s override vote. I wanted to share some of those with you in the hopes that it will help you to vote “Yes” when the polls open at the Field House on Tuesday.
But before I do I want to address two items that appeared in the local newspaper recently. In one letter to the editor, a resident said he said was tired of supporting “assistants to assistants” in the schools. There is no such thing. This belief represents baseless ignorance. Franklin spends far below the state average on administration in our schools. In fact, we spend below the state average in every category of school investment.
Another prominent resident claimed that citizens are afraid to express their views about the override for fear that their children would be punished in the schools. This is either an outrageous lie or a convenient rationalization. I have been active in the schools since 1998, and I have been involved in every override since. I have never ever heard of a single such incident. I have never even heard a rumor of such an incident. The resident who made this statement owes our schools either the proof to support the claim or a candid apology.
And now for some of the thoughtful questions that I have heard in my travels…
What is the relationship between the override vote and the planned renovation of Franklin High? There is none. The override would deliver an additional $3 million to the town’s operating budget, including $1.8 million for the schools. The override is designed to close a revenue shortfall. The FHS renovation is a capital project. Later in 2011, voters will be asked to give the town permission to borrow money for the work, like a mortgage. The state will reimburse approximately half the cost for the FHS project, and the cost of the borrowing will not show up on tax bills for three or four years.
Where’s the proof that the schools need these funds? Things seem fine? The Franklin schools are indeed high performing and tremendously efficient. That’s exactly why you should support the override as an investment. The lack of financial support for the schools is like termites living undetected in a house. The truth is that we have eliminated 100 teachers and seven administrators in the past five years. Class sizes have gone up. Kids with learning challenges are getting less personal attention. Teachers are getting less professional development. New fees have been created and existing fees have gone up. Our hardworking school employees are doing their best to hold back the tide, but the odds are against them over time unless we help now.
I am senior citizen on a fixed income. I can’t afford this, and why should I support the schools? My kids are grown and gone. The number one investment for any citizen of Franklin, young or old, is their home. And the best way to protect and strengthen the value of your home is to protect the quality of services in your community – police, fire, schools, public works, etc. If you are a senior, think about how the community helped pay for the public education your children received. Think about what will happen to the value of your home if the quality of services here continues to suffer from lack of investment.
Is there any guarantee that the Town Council will deliver $1.8 million from the override amount to the schools? Yes, their word. The council is publicly committed to that amount for the next two years. As you know, many councilors are actively campaigning for the override. There is no legal way to guarantee what happens when a new council takes office in two years, but history shows that the schools have received tremendous support from the Council. With the exception of one year when state aid was delivered late, well into the fiscal year, the schools have always received all of the state funds designated for education, as well as substantial revenues from property taxes..
Why should I add to my property taxes? Doesn’t it just make more sense to pay more in fees? Your property taxes are tax deductible. Fees are not. On a pre-tax basis, the proposed override will cost the average taxpayer $254 per year, about 70 cents per day, based on the average property assessment of $368,000 in Franklin. Passage of the ballot question would add 69 cents to the tax rate, or $.69 per $1,000 of the assessed value of your home. If the override fails, some athletic fees will increase more than the average annual tax cost of the override!
Where can I get more information about the override?
An excellent brochure has been developed that attempts to answer common questions and provides a chart of what services will be affected by the outcome of the override vote. You can view and download the brochure at: http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/override-brochure/
Up-to-date information and links on financial and academic issues, particularly from a school perspective, are available at: http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/override-page/
Concerned citizens who support passage of the override have formed a group called “Invest in Franklin.” You can visit the Invest in Franklin web site for additional information at: http://investinfranklin.weebly.com.
You can visit and join the Invest in Franklin group page on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2265200218&ref=ts
A Facebook event page has been created as a reminder about the June 8 vote. You can view it here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=118040221563289
My personal view is that Tuesday offers you a modest opportunity to invest in your community. No one agrees with every decision the town makes, but I am convinced, based on my years of involvement in town government and the schools, that Franklin is exceptionally well run, well intentioned and very efficient. Franklin lives within its means, provides a great quality of life, and does what it needs to maintain public property.
The outcome of this override has implications for all the essential services on which you and your family rely. In my mind, a “Yes” vote represents a well-deserved, very modest investment in the schools, police, fire, public works and library services that support my family, my friends and neighbors, and my property value.
Your town and schools need your help. I hope you will join me in supporting the override. Every vote is needed. Passage is by no means certain. Please do your civic duty on Tuesday and encourage all of your fellow citizens to do the same.
This e-mail reflects my opinion alone and is provided as a constituent service. Be on the look-out for an update soon on the great progress being made around the FHS renovation project.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these e-mails, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.
Thank you!
Ed Cafasso, Member
Franklin School Committee
edcafasso@comcast.net
Franklin, MA
Monday, June 7, 2010
Digital marketing - social networking
What is digital marketing?
Can social networking help grow my business?
Berry Ins and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce have joined together to hold a session on June 29th to provide information on how these tools can help. Most of the social media tools are free, hence the ROI on free becomes something to look at.
Details on the event including registration information can be found in the flyer below:
The Berry Ins website can be found here:
http://www.berryinsurance.com/
and the Chamber website here:
http://unitedchamber.org/
and you can register here:
http://berryinsurance.eventbrite.com/
Franklin, MA
Can social networking help grow my business?
Berry Ins and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce have joined together to hold a session on June 29th to provide information on how these tools can help. Most of the social media tools are free, hence the ROI on free becomes something to look at.
Details on the event including registration information can be found in the flyer below:
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
The Berry Ins website can be found here:
http://www.berryinsurance.com/
and the Chamber website here:
http://unitedchamber.org/
and you can register here:
http://berryinsurance.eventbrite.com/
Franklin, MA
Parmenter sign for Week of June 7 - 11
The Pandas at the Parmenter Elementary School will be happy this week with an ice cream social to look forward to on Wednesday evening.
The PCC will meet on Friday at 11:00 AM
Franklin, MA
The PCC will meet on Friday at 11:00 AM
Franklin, MA
Sunday, June 6, 2010
In the Globe - override
At a budget forum late last month, Town Councilor Joseph McGann said that he would not be supporting the override proposal, and that he would support raising taxes only “when I feel as though every dollar is being accounted for efficiently.
“I’m not saying ‘waste,’ ’’ he said, but “I continue to say there is some fat in some of the budgets.’’Read the full article in the Boston Globe West section of the Sunday edition:
http://www.boston.com/
Franklin, MA
Frequently asked questions: the full listing
Frequently Asked Questions: (each line is a link to the question and answer)
- What is a Prop 2 1/2 Override?
- What other federal and state funds support the school department’s operating budget?
- Can the town guarantee that the funds from the override will always be spent exactly the same way?
- Why do some citizens disagree with rating agencies about Franklin’s debt?
- How does per pupil spending in Franklin compare with spending in other Massachusetts communities?
- We wouldn’t be in a crisis if we hadn’t spent money on the senior center, fire station and new ball fields.
- Pension costs are killing us, so why don’t town employees fund their own pensions?
- What in the world is free cash?
- I have heard some people suggest we should adopt a split tax rate that makes businesses in Franklin pay more property taxes. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?
- Why do parents pay fees for their children to ride the bus or participate in athletics?
- Can’t we keep using money from the stabilization fund to get rid of our budget deficits?
- My children are in the Charter School. Will the override affect them?
- The town officials have found money in the past. They’ll find it again this time, won’t they?
- What has the town done to try to eliminate waste and bring spending under control?
- I have heard people criticize the way the town is run. If that’s true, why should I give the town more of my hard-earned money?
- Why is the school district continually facing a budget gap?
- When would the impact of an override take effect in Franklin?
- Has Franklin really laid off teachers?
- Why have my taxes gone up so much in the last four years?
- Is it true that we have too many overpaid administrators?
- Why should the community support the school budget?
- Will the override solve all of our fiscal problems?
If there is another question you would like answered, please ask.
Franklin, MA
Frequently asked questions: "Is it true that we have too many overpaid administrators?"
People tell me that our schools cost too much money, and that we have too many overpaid administrators. Is that true?
Based on statistics maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Franklin pays less than half of the state average for administrative and labor costs. The statistics for all 11 categories of education spending are included below:
According to Massachusetts Department of Education, more than 85 percent of the K-12 districts in the state spend more per pupil than Franklin. Franklin’s per pupil spending is the third lowest among its 30 peer communities. The per pupil expenditure for children in Franklin’s “regular day” school programs (which excludes Special Education) has lagged well behind the state average for the last 5 years, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In fiscal 2008, Franklin spent $9,751 per pupil in these programs -- $2,702 less per pupil than the statewide average of $12,453.
One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html
------------
The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:
Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)
Or
Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children
I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:
You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!
Additional information on the override can be found here:
Franklin, MA
Based on statistics maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Franklin pays less than half of the state average for administrative and labor costs. The statistics for all 11 categories of education spending are included below:
According to Massachusetts Department of Education, more than 85 percent of the K-12 districts in the state spend more per pupil than Franklin. Franklin’s per pupil spending is the third lowest among its 30 peer communities. The per pupil expenditure for children in Franklin’s “regular day” school programs (which excludes Special Education) has lagged well behind the state average for the last 5 years, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In fiscal 2008, Franklin spent $9,751 per pupil in these programs -- $2,702 less per pupil than the statewide average of $12,453.
One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html
------------
The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:
Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)
Or
Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children
I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:
- Make your choice
- Vote on June 8th
You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!
Additional information on the override can be found here:
- http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/index.html
- http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/override-page/
- http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/budget-override-collection-fy-2011.html
Franklin, MA
Frequently asked questions: "Why have my taxes gone up so much in the last four years?"
If Proposition 2½ says my property taxes can’t go up more than 2.5% per year, why have they gone up so much in the last four years?
Proposition 2½ does not say that your taxes cannot go up more than 2.5% each year. It says that the total amount of money the town raises from property taxes cannot increase by more than 2.5% a year plus new growth.
The reason some residential tax bills have increased significantly over the few years is because the market value of some homes– probably your family’s most important investment – has increased. This is due in part because Franklin is perceived to have good municipal services, strong public safety, convenient businesses and top quality schools, and, hence, Franklin is considered a great place to live. Our assessed and fair market property values reflect that market perception.
Notwithstanding the appreciated values referenced above, some residential property owners have, in fact, experienced a flattening or even a decrease in the assessed value of their homes in recent years due to the macroeconomic environment. And, keep in mind that commercial and industrial property is assessed based on income, so the value of those assessments has been stagnant due to the economic downturn that affected the business community.
While the total amount of revenue the town can raise from property taxes can only increase by law, by 2.5% each year, how much money each property in the town contributes to the total amount can change based on changes in its respective assessed and/or fair market value.
One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html
------------
The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:
Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)
Or
Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children
I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:
You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!
Additional information on the override can be found here:
Franklin, MA
Proposition 2½ does not say that your taxes cannot go up more than 2.5% each year. It says that the total amount of money the town raises from property taxes cannot increase by more than 2.5% a year plus new growth.
The reason some residential tax bills have increased significantly over the few years is because the market value of some homes– probably your family’s most important investment – has increased. This is due in part because Franklin is perceived to have good municipal services, strong public safety, convenient businesses and top quality schools, and, hence, Franklin is considered a great place to live. Our assessed and fair market property values reflect that market perception.
Notwithstanding the appreciated values referenced above, some residential property owners have, in fact, experienced a flattening or even a decrease in the assessed value of their homes in recent years due to the macroeconomic environment. And, keep in mind that commercial and industrial property is assessed based on income, so the value of those assessments has been stagnant due to the economic downturn that affected the business community.
While the total amount of revenue the town can raise from property taxes can only increase by law, by 2.5% each year, how much money each property in the town contributes to the total amount can change based on changes in its respective assessed and/or fair market value.
One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html
------------
The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:
Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)
Or
Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children
I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:
- Make your choice
- Vote on June 8th
You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!
Additional information on the override can be found here:
- http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/index.html
- http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/override-page/
- http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/budget-override-collection-fy-2011.html
Franklin, MA
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