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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108
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Tuesday, April 8, 2014
MassBudget: Building a Foundation for Success: Early Ed and Care in Massachusetts
Davis Thayer sign with announcements
On the rounds Sunday, I caught this photo of the Davis Thayer sign with their upcoming announcements
- Picture day - Apr 10
- Eat at Rick's - Apr 16
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| Davis Thayer sign 4/6/14 |
Have you found Rick's on the internet? http://www.ricksinfranklin.com/
Join the YPO on Wednesday April 16th from 6-8 pm at Twenty8!!
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United Regional YPO | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703
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Monday, April 7, 2014
Franklin, MA: FY 2014 Capital Plan - draft
As reported during the Finance Committee meeting last week, the draft capital plan was reviewed. My notes can be found here: http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/live-reporting-finance-committee.html
The official memo from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting is shown here. It walks through the highlights of what is proposed to fund for the capital plan. There are two speadsheets at the back that work through the numbers on what is proposed as well as the source of funds.
While the Finance Committee has approved the plan, the numbers won't be final until the snow/ice expense totals are complete. The winter storms have caused an overspending in the snow/ice budget so some of the 'free cash' will cover that shortfall. The remaining amount of 'free cash' will then be split among the proposed items.
You may recall that Franklin using their 'free cash' as their source of funds for the capital plan. You should recall that the 'free cash' is not really cash, nor is it 'free'. It is an accounting function for an annual budget. At the beginning of the year, amounts are budgeted for revenue and expenses.
When revenues exceed what is forecasted (which is a good thing and something Franklin does regularly) that becomes an amount that would contribute to 'free cash'.
When one or more departments spend less than their budget during that annual budget period, that amount also contributes to 'free cash'.
The state DOR validates the amount of 'free cash' for each community and releases the final number by about Nov/Dec. This is money that the community can use for one-time expenses and thereby Franklin uses for their capital budget.
Why not use 'free cash' for something else?
The money is available this year but there is no guarantee of it recurring. If the amount was added to a departments regular budget, then that amount would be committed to and need to be funded which would raise a priority question or potentially force a raise in property taxes.
Links for additional info on 'free cash' from the MA.gov website
Capital Plan draft for FY 2014
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczV1FPWU1pMXg1bzA/view?usp=sharing
One of the more interesting items in the proposal is that of a 'sprinkler park' to be added to Fletcher Field. Specifically where remains to be determined. The $150,000 amount is estimated to be 75% reimbursed by the state with a grant. The money does need to be spent up front however.
What would the sprinkler park look like?
The photo below is a sample of what it could look like.
The official memo from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting is shown here. It walks through the highlights of what is proposed to fund for the capital plan. There are two speadsheets at the back that work through the numbers on what is proposed as well as the source of funds.
While the Finance Committee has approved the plan, the numbers won't be final until the snow/ice expense totals are complete. The winter storms have caused an overspending in the snow/ice budget so some of the 'free cash' will cover that shortfall. The remaining amount of 'free cash' will then be split among the proposed items.
You may recall that Franklin using their 'free cash' as their source of funds for the capital plan. You should recall that the 'free cash' is not really cash, nor is it 'free'. It is an accounting function for an annual budget. At the beginning of the year, amounts are budgeted for revenue and expenses.
When revenues exceed what is forecasted (which is a good thing and something Franklin does regularly) that becomes an amount that would contribute to 'free cash'.
When one or more departments spend less than their budget during that annual budget period, that amount also contributes to 'free cash'.
The state DOR validates the amount of 'free cash' for each community and releases the final number by about Nov/Dec. This is money that the community can use for one-time expenses and thereby Franklin uses for their capital budget.
Why not use 'free cash' for something else?
The money is available this year but there is no guarantee of it recurring. If the amount was added to a departments regular budget, then that amount would be committed to and need to be funded which would raise a priority question or potentially force a raise in property taxes.
Links for additional info on 'free cash' from the MA.gov website
- DOR certification
- Data bank reports on 'free cash'
Capital Plan draft for FY 2014
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczV1FPWU1pMXg1bzA/view?usp=sharing
One of the more interesting items in the proposal is that of a 'sprinkler park' to be added to Fletcher Field. Specifically where remains to be determined. The $150,000 amount is estimated to be 75% reimbursed by the state with a grant. The money does need to be spent up front however.
What would the sprinkler park look like?
The photo below is a sample of what it could look like.
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| possible sprinkler park for Fletcher Field |
Franklin Walk - Tree'd
The walk Saturday was somewhat warmer than other Saturday's but not as sunny.
There were many clouds but no rain (fortunately - at least by the time I went out).
I found a bear but not a fierce one
I began to notice the trees. Yes, really notice them. They are standing. Bare. Bending with the breeze.
While a common conversation recently was that we had had enough of winter, the trees did not complain.
They may have leaned with the wind, or bent with the snow, maybe even lost a branch when the snow was too heavy.
Some trees are really big and old. Some stand in groups. Some stand in rows.
When trees get together, their fingers seem to hold up or reach for the clouds in the sky
There may be a couple more weekends to observe the trees around us before the bud and break out in leaves. Take a walk and see what trees are in your neighborhood.
There were many clouds but no rain (fortunately - at least by the time I went out).
I found a bear but not a fierce one
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| outside 1776 Financial Services, East Central St |
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| tree at Rockland Trust, East Central St |
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| leaning trees along King St |
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| large and old tree on King St near Peck |
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| Evergreen tree on King St |
When trees get together, their fingers seem to hold up or reach for the clouds in the sky
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| tree skyline in Franklin |
There may be a couple more weekends to observe the trees around us before the bud and break out in leaves. Take a walk and see what trees are in your neighborhood.
"there is not an opt-out option"
On Sunday, the Boston Globe MetroWest section had an article on the growing discussion around standardized testing. PARCC is being piloted here in Franklin as well as other communities around the state. Some communities are trying to get out of the piloting and the article quotes Franklin's Joyce Edwards:
Joyce Edwards, director of instructional services for the Franklin school system, said every step had been taken to ensure that the testing, which will be conducted this week and in May in eight schools across the district, will have as minimal an impact on daily instruction as possible.
“There is always an extra burden when there is extra testing,” Edwards said. “We took every exemption available to avoid double-testing. Beyond that the state has been quite clear there is not an opt-out option.”
PARCC
Franklin’s schools obtained MCAS exemptions from the state for students who take the PARCC pilot test. If students take a PARCC test in English or math, they won’t have to take the same section in MCAS.
Edwards said if an opt-out was allowed by the state, the district probably would have offered it.
“We absolutely would have considered that,” she said. “We don’t believe in double-testing and the loss in instructional time.”
You can find the full article online here (subscription required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2014/04/05/some-school-districts-less-than-excited-about-new-standardized-test/yLaSdLSF26svfASDhAmYHO/story.html
Stations of Cross Broadcast
The Franciscans of Divine Mercy/ Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus of the Independent Old Catholic Church of the Americas will have a special televised Stations of the Cross often called Via Dolorosa @ 2:00 PM on Good Friday April 18th.
The Franciscans of Divine Mercy's weekly televisions show REFLECTIONS and the special Good Friday Stations is broadcast through the Franklin Community Cable Access TV Studio on Comcast Channel 8 and on Verizon Channel 26.
The REFLECTIONS television show airs every Sunday at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on Franklin Community Cable Access TV Studio.
The show is available to all local Cable Access stations in New England in accordance with Massachusetts law simply by a resident of station manager requesting it.
All the REFLECTIONS Shows are also available on YouTube by going to: https://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
For more information contact Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD @ 508-520-0992 or by email @ Divinemercyparish@msn.com
Pax et Bonum
Peace & All God's Goodness be with you
Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
Divine Mercy Old Catholic Parish
Independent Catholic Church of the Americas
Link to Fr. Bob's Weekly TV show
http://www.youtube.com/user/RevBobJohn
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FriarBobJohn
Mission Web Site www.missionstsergius.org
Franciscan Web Site www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
ICCA Seminary Link http://www.iccamericas.org/seminary/
Diocese Office: http://stjosephcupertino.com/index.html
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