MassBudget: Five Things to Look for in the FY2020 Budget

Read our new report

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. January 22, 2019 Five Things to Look for in the FY 2020 Budget When the Governor releases his budget this week, he will kick off the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget debate. The FY 2020 budget will not only determine funding for schools, roads, parks, and other essential services, but can also move the discussion on how to raise the revenues our state needs to pay for these services. For those following the debate, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) offers a new report, Five Things to Look for in the FY 2020 Budget. http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Five_Things_to_Look_for_in_the_FY_2020_Budget.html "State lawmakers have a tough task this year. We have many needs - such as education funding reform and transportation improvements - but we have no significant, new revenue sources to help pay for these essentials and fix substantial holes that may develop in state revenue sources over the next couple of years," said Marie-Frances Rivera, Interim President of MassBudget. "One overarching question to consider during this year's budget cycle is whether state lawmakers propose new, progressive sources of revenue through the state budget or through independent legislation." An update of the outdated formula that funds our K-12 schools has been a key issue in recent months. Reform of this can come through the state budget or through separate legislation. Another question to consider is whether the state budget will account for this year's minimum wage increase (from $11 to $12 per hour) which will benefit many low-income workers who provide care for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Without funding from the state, providers may struggle to maintain the same level and quality of services while paying their workers the higher wage. Undergirding the questions on spending is a question on how the state can generate adequate revenues to overcome impending shortfalls and plan for the future. The revenue forecast over FY 2019 and FY 2020 is mixed and will depend greatly on whether the state economy's decade-long upturn will slow or falter.  Further, over the next two years, the state expects to see substantial holes develop in both tax and non-tax revenue sources - stemming from scheduled drops in the personal income tax rate and from the expiration of a roughly $260 million temporary assessment to help pay for subsidized health care. Neither the Governor nor the Legislature has yet offered specific plans that would fill those holes with new revenues. It will be worth considering whether any proposed taxes or fees make the state's tax system more equitable - by requiring top income-earners to contribute a greater share of their incomes, closer to the share that everyone else pays. The report also includes information to help budget watchers follow the debates. Readers can track funding recommendations in each budget proposal using MassBudget's Budget Browser. Read the report http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Five_Things_to_Look_for_in_the_FY_2020_Budget.html. 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 Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee: Upcoming Events

View this email in your browser Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Upcoming Events There is plenty going on with the FBRTC. Check out the events below for more information. We hope to see you at one of the events or on the trail! SNETT Walk with FBRTC Friday, January 25 11 AM - 12 PM Lake Street parking lot in Bellingham Join members of the FBRTC for a group walk on the trail! More info January FUNdraiser Pour Richards Sunday, January 27 1 PM - 4 PM Join us at Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits for our winter FUNdraiser of beer, wine tasting and great conversations! More info Franklin Fives Road Race Saturday, May 11 10 AM Help support our effort to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail into a multi-use path for Franklin and Bellingham at our annual road race! More info Copyright © 2019 Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have opted in to stay informed about the Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Our mailing address is: Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee PO Box 68 Franklin, Ma 02038

In the News: Franklin looking for interest in Red Brick School; Board of Higher Ed examining college closures

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

looking for 'expressions of interest' for the Red Brick School 

"Town government is inviting the public to take a look inside the Red Brick School House next month in hopes of making use of the historic space. 

The town is hosting a walk-through of the building at 2 Lincoln St. on Feb. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. for anyone interested in utilizing the structure. Those who plan to attend should RSVP with Deputy Town Administrator Jaime Hellen by calling 508-553-4887. 

The building was built on the foundation of an older schoolhouse in 1833, and is still in perfectly good working order, Hellen said. 

The Red Brick Schoolhouse, according to Hellen and Wikipedia, is the oldest functioning schoolhouse in the country."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190123/franklins-red-brick-school-house-up-for-grabs

Get a copy of the instructions here 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EkxdTCzUuDB9lfnTwotWRvXbSzX5l25F/view?usp=sharing

or on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/red_schoolhouse_rfpei_final.pdf

Town of Franklin looking for "expressions of interest" for the Red Brick School House

Board of Higher Ed examining college closures

"Amid abrupt college closings and declining confidence in higher education, state officials are weighing a proposal that would allow the state to more closely monitor financially troubled schools. 

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education examined a report that outlined recommendations at a Tuesday meeting at Framingham State University. The report calls for a new process of screening colleges to identify those in need of monitoring and intervention. 

“The goal of this is not to highlight finger-pointing but actually to restore confidence in a field that is suffering from some slippage,” said board Chairman Chris Gabrieli. 

In May, the board announced it would examine ways to determine the financial health of colleges as well as ways to lessen the fallout from school closings and provide the recommendations to the board members. The group, known as the Transitions in Higher Education: Safeguarding the Interest of Students (THESIS), met four times and submitted a final report last week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190123/board-of-higher-education-proposes-closer-scrutiny-for-colleges

"In summary, the THESIS Working Group report includes two findings and several recommendations. The findings are as follows: 

1) The risk of further challenges to viability at non-profit institutions of highereducation (NPIHEs) leading to potential student disruption is significant, ongoing, and likely growing; and 

2) Current standard financial metrics are insufficient for timely or fully identifying atrisk NPIHEs, and current processes among the triad of accreditors, U.S. Department of Education, and state authorities are insufficient to ensure prevention/mitigation of future unacceptable disruption to students and others."

From the THESIS report submitted last week
http://www.mass.edu/bhe/lib/documents/BHE/03_BHE%2019-04%20THESIS.pdf

Live reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing (Executive Session)

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your January 8, 2019 School Committee Meeting.
b. Transfers
I recommend approval of the transfers as detailed.
c. Veteran’s Auditorium Concert Recurring Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Mary MacMurray to take students to the
Veteran’s Auditorium in Providence, RI for a concert on May 21, 2019 (Parmenter) and May 24, 2019 (JFK) as detailed.
d. DECA Competition Recurring Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Miguel Carmo to take FHS DECA Students to Orlando, FL from 4/27/2019 through 5/1/2019 for the International Competition as detailed.

motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence

11. Executive Session

a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA/RN unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

motion to go to executive session, seconded, passed 6-0

Live reporting: Information Matters

4. Discussion Only Items
a. None Proposed

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports 

Budget
as discussed, subcommittee meeting Weds

Community Relations
meeting and discussion at Senior Center, how serious are the issues at the schools? They were getting a good sense of what the problems are

Seniors were hungry for info, a packed room, will be back in March with updates

a good conversation on what education is like today vs what they had experienced

Policy
next meeting on the 24th

Public Schools Advocacy
Feb 5th legislative forum

MassBudget released study today (in Franklin Matters on Weds morning)


b. School Committee Liaison Reports 

Joint PCC

Substance Abuse Task Force
met today

School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]
nothing since last time

School Start Times Advisory Committee [SSTAC]
parent info night coming Jan 30th at FHS Lecture Hall

preliminary results being evaluated from survey

MASC

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

DIP update
homework
'Portrait of a graduate'

Live reporting: Discussion - Action Items

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. 2019-2020 School Calendar
I recommend adoption of the 2019-2020 School Calendar as discussed.

recent changes:
Presidential Primary - Tues, March 3, 2020
amended calendar to adjust accordingly

SATs - Saturday, May 2
hence can't do the prom on May 1, so moved it to May 8th

motion to adopt calendar as changed, seconded, passed 6-0


b. Policy – 2nd Readings/Adoption
I recommend adoption of the following policies as discussed:

• (NEW) INJDD – Social Media Policy
• JFAA-E1 – Residency Statement
• LB – Relations with Other Schools & School Districts

motion to adopt calendar as changed, seconded, passed 6-0

Live reporting: Superintendents Recommended Budget

b. FY 2020 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget
tied to values, mission and DIP goals

budget process to date (slides to be added when available on Wednesday)
screen grabs to be inserted as available

circuit breaker amount increased, so it may appear the costs are going down so it may be misleading

started with level service and then looked to 'critical needs'
a total of a 6% increase as it is (leaving some 'critical needs' out)

• ECDC request for PreK curriculum leadership, not recommended
• Adjustment counselors currently at Middle School, would add 2 FTE to elementary, and adjust as necessary with study underway (results not yet available)
• Expansion of NECC Partner Program at Parmenter 
• Instructional interventionists - not recommended at this time
• ESP support at K level, principals requested 2 FTE at each, recommended 1 at each
• Adjustment counselors at the Middles School, requested 2 per, recommending 1 per
• STRIVE program at ASMS
• Classroom teachers at FHS to address growing class sizes, recommend to add 4 FTE
• Curriculum leadership, missing piece at MS and ES; 2 FTE
• substitute recruitment strategies - recruit and retain more long term subs
• Digital integration specialists, not recommended at this time
• Van driver - looking to add but it would have cost savings
• Technology replenishment, use capital 

Superintendents Recommended Budget for FY 2020 - summary slide

decreasing the use of revolving funds to balance the budget (approx $300K)

anticipated budget gap to close - TBD

variables:

• Actual allocation from the Town
• collective bargaining
• Actual health insurance
• other revenue streams
• Remaining FY 2019 expenditures

Feb 5th - Legislative Forum
Feb 26th (actually a Tuesday - slide said 27th which was last year's date)

add $50K, not $75K for NECC item

Q - if we put the not recommended to the future? how will we pay for those?
A - always an issue, if it goes forward, we will need to be creative, it is a tight budget