- Franklin Public Schools Budget Subcommittee Meeting
- Franklin School Committee Meeting
2 Important School District Meetings Tuesday, April 30 |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
2 Important School District Meetings Tuesday, April 30 |
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
a. Proclamation: Chris Stearns, Franklin TV
b. Police Department - Introductioni. Mental Health Clinician Caroline Ferris
a. Conservation Commission - Nicole Chiaramonte https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/con_com_appointment_-_nicole_chiaramonte_v2.pdf
a. Presentation: FY23 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, Partner, Marcum LLP https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._-_audit_for_presentation_-_franklin_ma_fs23_-_draft_v2.pdf
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Economic Development Subcommitteec. Budget Subcommitteed. Master Plan Committeee. Davis-Thayer Reuse Advisory Committeef. Police Station Building Committeeg. GATRA Advisory Board
the second part of the meeting had the Town Council and School Committee members aligned to hear from the audience. Photo S Sherlock Franklin.news |
“How can I watch the meeting?”
“We’ll show it on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon 29.” “ – I don’t have cable.”
“You can also watch us live on our YouTube channel.“
$55.00 Field Trips$5322.00 In-House Enrichment
$2,500.00 DCU Bank$10,000.00 Fernando P. Baglioni Scholarship Fund
FM #1179-80 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1179-80 in the series.
This session shares the Joint Town Council & School Committee meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in 2 parts. All 9 Town Councilors and all 7 School Committee members participated. Many town and school department managers were also present in the first couple of rows of the auditorium.
Over 400 folks were in the FHS auditorium, another 2-300 were online via YouTube at one point or another (and that tallied 800+ unique individuals by the time the meeting ended).
Part 1
Covers the first 90 minutes of the meeting
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen presented the FY 2025 budget
School Superintendent Lucas Giguere accompanied by Business Administrator Dr Bob Dutch presented the school budget and issues
Part 2
The remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes covered the public comment and question section. Speakers were allocated 1 minute, most kept to the point.
Audio link P2 -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1180-joint-town-council-school-cmte-mtg-04-24-24-p2-of-2--------------
The Franklin TV broadcast of the 3 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/live/xMN27_nBPUU?si=aeSWZvxA-SMPJ6wo
Agenda for this session ->
Town presentation
School presentation
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_7qKlYxPivFDjatz9mjtDg8lU-WMY_q/view?usp=drive_link
Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiHMQqYaertGjcqSA
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
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Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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Town presentation
School presentation
TA Jamie Hellen, School Supt Lucas Giguere |
a. Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen and Superintendent of Schools, Lucas Giguere
a. To discuss the public opinion of an operational override
Voices of Franklin: Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, "Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June" |
○ $378,000 in additional DPW expenses;○ $85,000 (plus benefits) in the Facilities Budget for a Sustainability Coordinator;○ $200,000 in additional Public Property and Buildings expenses (School related);○ $2,000 in additional Town Council expenses;○ $5,000 in additional Cultural Council grant money;○ $5,000 in additional Historical Museum expenses; and○ $6.3 million for Franklin Public Schools Level Service plus Restoration of cuts.
○ Additional resources toward Debt & Interest. In 2026, we anticipate borrowing for a Remington-Jefferson remodel and the Horace Mann Roof replacement;○ Additional public infrastructure costs for roads, sidewalks, parking lots, trails, crosswalks, tree trimming to prevent power outages, bike lanes, traffic calming to slow people down; pedestrian crosswalks and other public works improvements;○ $2 million in annual capital needs transferred to the operating budget - costs for Police and Fire safety gear, school curriculum, school and town technology, school and town fleet, and DPW apparatus.○ Funds to address an increasing demand and reliance on Technology, mostly in our Schools.○ Additional staffing investments for green and sustainability goals, open space planning, conservation efforts, and net zero initiatives.○ Funding for Municipal Capital Projects: Police Station, Beaver Street Recycling Facility and other community requests, such as an Arts Center.○ An additional $4.3 million for level service for Schools or $6.3 million to restore some previous cuts in 2023-24 to the Schools;○ Additional Strategic investments toward Franklin Public Schools, such as foreign language, capital, facilities, clubs, academies, and arts related curriculum; and○ Assumptions related to collective bargaining negotiations for the Town's unions, as these contracts expire at the end of FY25. CBA’s will be for FY26, FY27 and FY28.
○ Sewer Rates. Effective July 1, 2024, there will be a 15% increase in sewer rates. We are required to raise rates to create surety behind the loan for the Beaver Street Interceptor. The interceptor was first built and paid for 109 years ago and lasted for generations. The time has come for the residents of Franklin today to pay for a new interceptor and pay the debt for current and future generations of Franklinites.○ Stormwater. FY24 represents year one of the Stormwater Utility to address the federal unfunded EPA mandates. As each year progresses, the permit becomes shockingly more expensive. A rate increase will be required to stay up-to-date with the permit. We estimate a minor increase of about $1.50 per billing unit, which is on average $10-$20 a year for most households. This rate increase will ensure solvency of the stormwater utility budget. However, in the next few years, a much more detailed public discussion must take place on the expense associated with the Town’s Phosphorus Control Plan, which is estimated to cost $30 million over five years. Addressing this issue is not optional, as these are unfunded federal mandates. The town has already sued the federal government over this issue.○ Water Rates. Residents can also expect to see an 8% water rate increase in each of the next three years. Two major federal and state regulatory required projects are expected to come online in the form of a $25 million water filtration project (water tank membrane to protect from manganese and iron) and the first of the Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) required projects - a $6.5 million PFAS Filtration Plant (with a zero % interest loan from the state). Rate payers will see an approximate $50 increase per year over the next three years.○ The Tri-County School Project. In November 2023, 61% of residents that participated in the election voted in affirmative to raise property taxes through a debt exclusion to pay for Franklin’s anticipated $2.1 million per year assessment. Congratulations to the Tri-County School community for their campaign to build a new facility and successfully navigate the MSBA process. Approximately ⅓ of the project is paid for by the state. The tax impact for this project will begin in FY25 and is reflected in the debt exclusion budget model and expenditure line item with an increase of $132,298. The tax rate will be adjusted later this year to reflect the increase in levy for Franklin's portion. This project is budget neutral. At full maturity in FY27, an average ($650,377) Franklin household will have taxes raised by $169/year to pay for this. That rate will decline over the life of the project.
● The state’s Chapter 70 Formula is not in the Towns’ favor and will continue to be a pressure point, especially if the Legislature is forced to alter the formula due to the Town’s increasing “Hold Harmless” situation.● Significant fixed costs and capital costs to technology, facilities, and fleet will compete with operating costs to education and classrooms. These costs are not a part of the preliminary budget model, but still need funding sources.● Collective bargaining looms in FY26 with Franklin Education Association (FEA) and other unions. Labor and personnel costs have risen significantly for the schools, but this is also a trend affecting all municipalities statewide.● Unsustainable special education cost increases, which put pressure on all aspects of the school budget.● Central office staffing capacity in Administration, Finance and Human Resources and technology investments.● School Revolving Funds solvency at the end of FY24 heading into FY25 and having some respectable reserves.● Town and School federal ARPA and ESSR money expires at the end of this calendar year.● Continued declining enrollment. In 2008, the school district enrollment was 6,464. The most recent enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is 4,721 (as of Feb 2024). The school district is losing 100-150 students a year in district enrollment and this trend is expected throughout most of the rest of the decade. In 2022, the School Committee hosted a redistricting exercise and looked at future enrollment projections and facilities needs, but that resulted in no action. They have reenaged McKibben Consulting to relook at the district demographics; however even the assumptions used in that study does not not offer a clear picture. Town staff have worked closely with the Schools to ensure the correct development and growth assumptions are made in any final study that may shape redistricting and the better use of town and school facility space. The objective is to streamline operations and maximize space to alleviate increasing fixed costs.
● It is also important to note that portions of the municipal budget are made up of school related costs in the amount of approximately $20 million when fully funded (Note: It is important to note that figure is based on conservative assumptions. This figure could be much higher). Both the Facilities Department and the DPW have seen consistent increases to their budgets specific to school related costs. While these costs continue to increase, it is important to note that their budgets have not been fully restored to pre pandemic levels for school or municipal costs. The “Municipal” budget pays for all school building debt & interest, property and casualty insurance, worker’s compensation, snow removal, non-teacher pension costs, grounds & building maintenance, utilities, OPEB costs, fuel for the school van fleet, unemployment insurance, retired teacher health and life insurance, some staff, and much more.
Executive Summary (Part 2) for the FY 2025 Town of Franklin Budget |