Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question for FY 2026 Town & School budget

March 14, 2025

To: Town Council

From:  Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator

Re: Resolution 25-15: Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question Resolution 25-16: Setting Date of Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot

Before the Council this evening are two resolutions relative to an override. The first resolution establishes the date of a special override election. The second establishes the exact question that will be on the ballot.

Beginning in January, the Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC), consisting of four members of Town Council, three members of the School Committee, and four members of the Finance Committee, along with the Town Administrator and Superintendent, held a series of six public listening sessions in various locations across town. The objective of these sessions was to give residents multiple opportunities to share opinions, ask questions and gain a better understanding of how the Town’s budget deficit will impact Town services, School services and resident taxes in FY26 and beyond, both with and without an override. The response to these sessions was overwhelmingly positive with many new and familiar faces in attendance and a tremendous amount of valuable information shared. We truly appreciate the questions and feedback and hope this community engagement continues to grow!

At the final JBSC listening session on March 12th, the Committee voted, 9-1 (with one member absent) to recommend the following:

1) That the Town Council vote to put forth a $3,862,672 override ballot question to the registered voters of the Town of Franklin with the following ballot question language - "Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $3,862,672 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the municipal and school operating budgets for which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025". 

2) That the Town Council vote to place the proposed override ballot question before the residents for a vote at a Special Town Election on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

For more information please visit the FY26 Budget page on our website. Assuming the Town Council approves a ballot question and date for the special election, the Town will upload a dedicated override website with legally allowable information.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4746/9a--25-15-and-25-16---Override-Date-and-Question

Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question for FY 2026 Town & School budget

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override -> Questions 29 - 32

Frequently Asked Questions - shared from the Town of Franklin FY 2026 Override Information page. There are 40 and a form to ask another question if it is not already listed there -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/Faq.aspx?TID=41

29. Can we increase fees? 

The state sets limits on how much we can increase fees and what additional taxes (like meals taxes) we are able to assess. Fees must be reasonable as a method to pay for the costs of services and not as a method to raise revenue to pay for general town services.  

In 2024 the Town underwent a comprehensive analysis of all Town fees. On October 16, 2024 with Bylaw Amendment 24-914, the Town Council voted to implement many updates based on changes in state law or state code, changes in market conditions for municipal fees and/or calculations to the costs of service.  

In FY25 the Franklin Public Schools also reviewed and updated various service fees.

Fees will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis, however fees cannot be increased enough to eliminate the deficit.

30. How can I learn more about the impact of the override on the schools? 

The Superintendent’s recommended budget presentation contains an overview of the impact of cuts without an override and the potential improvements with an override. It can be found here.  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5256287/28Jan2025_FY26_Super_Rec_Budget_to_SC.pdf

You can find detailed budget information here ->   https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-district-budget

31.What if an override does not pass? 

The Town and Schools will need to cut $3,862,672 from the budget. Please review here the possible service reductions to each department for Fiscal Year 2026 if the override is not approved.

32. Can the Town have a lower tax rate for Seniors or other lower-income residents? 

No, but there are programs offered through the Senior Center, Veterans’ Services or Assessor's Office that may help defer costs, if eligible. Please find a guide for senior exemptions here.

Are there exemptions for senior citizens or other taxpayers who are not able to afford this increase?

Yes. The Town of Franklin, through its Community Assistance Program (CAP) in Section 82 of the Town Code and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offer a variety of exemptions, discounts & resources to qualifying residents. The Assessors also offer Real Estate Exemptions and Deferral programs to qualifying individuals. There is also a senior tax work off program through the senior center. Please contact the Board of Assessor and the Senior Center for guidance with any of these programs. 

Additional info can be found on the Town FY 2026 Override page ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override

Voices of Franklin: Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, "Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June"

Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, Mr. Helen and Superintendent Giguere, 

I am writing to you this evening to urge you all to vote to put the override on the ballot this June.  Anyone who claims this has been a rushed process has simply not been paying attention.  I take particular umbrage at the residents who have lived here far longer than I have who are claiming this override process has been rushed.  As someone who only moved here in late 2021, and, again, has a toddler and an infant at home, I should be the resident who has no idea of the financial straits Franklin is in.  And yet I am aware.  The idea that this override process has been rushed is simply absurd.  A simple Google search will pull up the former Superintendent of Schools comments from 2008 - 16 years ago - about the financial crunch facing the Franklin Schools.  

Former Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, "taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society."  That's the ballgame - taxes are the price we pay to enjoy all the benefits of civilization.  At the local level, that means our water and sewer systems work, our roads are paved, we have police and fire departments, we have good schools, and all of those services must be funded adequately.

I believe reasonable people can disagree.  I also believe that reasonable people, when looking at the financial data provided, will happily shell out more money in property taxes in order to continue to fund our local government properly, because the alternative is horrifying.  

Let me be clear - I want to live in a town where our local services are properly funded.  If that means I pay more in property taxes to do so, then I will do so happily.  I want the Franklin Police Department to be fully funded (and I want them to get the new police station they need when the time comes for that).  I want the Fire Department to be fully funded.  I want the DPW to be fully funded. I want the Library to be fully funded.  I want the Facilities Department to be fully funded, and yes, I want to make damn sure the schools are fully funded as well.  And I know that nothing in life comes free, so I (and many more people in town) are willing to pay that cost, to ensure that our local services remain the best they can be.  

I know Franklin does have people on fixed incomes, and this will be difficult for them.  This includes my own aunt and uncle living here as well.  I have all the sympathy in the world for people on fixed incomes during these times of crazy inflation. I can only hope that they understand this override is absolutely necessary and their sense of civic duty and pride in the town of Franklin motivates them to vote in favor of it, despite the additional hardship such an override will represent.

However, I believe a lot of the opposition to the override comes from people who are currently in the workforce, people who have seen the property values of their homes skyrocket in recent years, and simply buy into the narrative that government is the problem and that taxes are a form of theft.  Please, ignore those people, as they do not represent the majority of voters here in Franklin.  Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June.  Thank you all for your service - I know that you all get a lot of flak in your positions as government leaders.  Keep your heads up, ignore the negativity, and please do the right thing and put the override to the ballot in June.  I look forward to seeing the joint Town Council/School Committee meeting this Wednesday at FHS.

Respectfully,

Ben Liberto

23 Southgate Rd.  

Voices of Franklin: Dear Franklin Town Council & School Committee, "Please, vote to put the override on the ballot in June"

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

What's this about a possible override for Franklin? (collection)

The unofficial results of the override (No by 236 votes) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/unofficial-results-franklin-ma-special.html

The official results of the override https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/official-certified-results-franklin-ma.html

The first pass of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget as presented to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting last week shows the Town of Franklin facing a $10.1 million deficit. The numbers will continue to be worked. As discussed during the meeting, breaking news that afternoon showed a reduction in the projected cost increase for health care that had just been received. That will be adjusted for future budget discussions.

The timeline for the budget development is as follows:

• School Committee budget public hearing - March 19

• School Committee votes on school budget recommendation - April 9

• Town of Franklin FY 2025 budget scheduled for release - April 12

• Joint Town Council & School Committee Mtg - Apr 24

• Town Council meeting May 1 (determine yes or no for override, if yes, sets date & amount)

• Finance Committee budget hearings - May 6, May 8, May 15 (vote)

• Town Council budget hearings - May 22, May 23 (vote)

• Override date - June 11 for $6.8M

If there were to be an override, the decision on “When?” is as critical as “How much”? Election requirements call for 35 days notification of a vote on a ballot question. Hence, a vote scheduled for June would have to be decided no later than early May

Town override page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy25-override-information

 

Town budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials

School budget page -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget

Recent meetings/interviews/documents (most recent on top, scroll down for prior)

06/07/24 - Chalkboard Chat with SchCmte Chair Dave Callaghan ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/this-chalkboard-chat-recaps-current.html

06/06/24 - Town Council Quarterbacking with Chair Tom Mercer ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/this-town-council-quarterbacking_01806946359.html

06/05/24 - Town Clerk Nancy Danello - Special Election update -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/franklin-ma-town-clerk-nancy-danello.html

6/05/24 - Franklin Senior Center - Override Q&A  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/many-override-questions-answered-at.html

5/28/24 - School Cmte Budget Subcommittee - preview of fees, etc. ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/schools-budget-subcmte-gets-preview-of.html

05/16/24 - Franklin Issues with Jay Horrigan (3 parts) ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/jay-i-cover-franklins-current-issues-in.html

05/20.24 - Chalkboard Chat SchCmte Dave McNeill & FinCmte George Conley ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/this-chalkboard-chat-session-recaps.html

05/15/24 - Finance Committee budget hearing #3 -> recap, audio&video ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/finance-committee-hears-updates-from_19.html

05/14/24 - School Committee meeting votes on redistricting -> recap, audio & video ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/school-committee-moves-forward-with_0490415739.html

05/11/24 - Schools Redistricting 'Master Plan' report published ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/fps-school-facilities-and-educational.html

05/08/24 - Finance Committee budget hearing #2 ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/finance-committee-reviews-public-safety_10.html

05/06/24 - Town Clerk shares Override Election schedule ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/franklin-town-clerk-provides-important.html

05/06/24 - Finance Committee budget hearing #1 ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/finance-cmte-approves-pledge-doc-and.html

05/04/24 - Redistricting info page created, FAQs published ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/redistricting-faqs-published-add-your.html

5/01/24 - Town Council meeting sets date & amount -> June 1 for $6.8 Million Audio, video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/town-council-after-much-discussion_4.html

04/30/24 - Interview with FEA President Donna Grady (teacher's union) ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/talking-about-teaching-education-with.html

4/30/24 - School Committee meeting on redistricting - recap with audio & video links ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/school-committee-listens-to-lot-of-we.html

4/30/24 - School Committee Budget subcmte meeting - audio & recap ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/school-budget-subcmte-get-preview-of.html

4/25/24 - Comprehensive School Facility Plan Subcmte meeting (redistricting draft)  (recap & audio) -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/comprehensive-school-facility-plng.html

4/24/24 - Joint Town Council & School Committee mtg - recap, audio (2 parts) and video -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/town-council-and-school-committee-hear_01363014460.html

04/22/24 - Special Chalkboard Chat Dave Callaghan & Dr Anne Bergen ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/dr-bergen-dave-callaghan-talk-about.html

4/12/24 - Town of Franklin FY 2025 budget released. The budget was released as "balanced" by NOT including any Town 'wish list' items, nor projecting to incur any cuts. The School Shortfall was granted approx. $3M leaving the $9.3 million the Schools voted for $6.3M short, hence all the cuts would come to the schools. Something may change during the Finance Committee and Town Council hearings (with or without an override).

Details available on the budget page in particular the budget narrative doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy_25_budget_message_narrative_updated_links_2.pdf

and the voting doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf

4/09/24 - School Committee approves FY 2025 budget - Recap, audio & video links ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/04/school-committee-votes-to-approve-81m_0566458301.html

3/19/24 - School Committee meeting

• FY25 Budget Open Hearing  ->   (budget book) https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/fy25_complete_budget_book.pdf
• Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1161-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-03-19-24
• Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YXw4dnXUqk 

3/06/24 - Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting

• Joint Budget audio recap with Mercer, Conley & McNeill -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/tom-george-david-recap-joint-budget.html

• Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33RO5xYoUg   

• Meeting agenda ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda_-_march_6_2024.pdf 

• Presentation document link -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-03-06_fy25_budget_slides_jbsc.pdf

3/05/24 - School Committee Superintendent’s budget

• Chalkboard chat audio session recapping SchCmte meeting & Joint Budget meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/this-chalkboard-chat-recaps.html

• Franklin TV's video recording of the meeting is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEe-JcCn_k

• The agenda doc can be found online ->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-5-24.pdf

• The packet folder containing other documents released for the meeting can also be found online ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/march-5-2024-school-committee-meeting
  

1/23/24 - School Committee budget subcommittee received preview of 4 scenarios for school FY 2025 budget -> (recap & audio) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/01/school-budget-subcommittee-gets-preview.html

Visit Vote No Franklin for the opposition view -> https://www.votenofranklin.com/

Visit One Franklin to find out more about the group and their efforts advocating for the override https://onefranklinma.com/

What's this about a possible override for Franklin? 

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override -> Questions 37 - 40

Frequently Asked Questions - shared from the Town of Franklin FY 2026 Override Information page. There are 40 and a form to ask another question if it is not already listed there -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/Faq.aspx?TID=41

37. Were other, lower override amounts considered? 

A $6.8 million dollar override was considered last year and did not pass. This lower amount of $3,862,672 keeps the budget at level service and came from the Joint Budget Subcommittee listening sessions discussions.  The Town Council decided to give residents the opportunity to vote on an override budget that would maintain level services across all departments.

38. When and how often has Franklin passed overrides? 

Franklin last approved an override in Fiscal Year 2008 in the amount of $2,700,000. The Town put override ballot questions before the voters in 1991, 1997, 2005, and 2025 and none of them passed. Please find historic ballot question information on the DLS website.

39. The ballot question requests to access additional real estate and personal property taxes. What personal property taxes are being considered? 

Each year municipal Assessors assess personal property taxes on all taxable personal property within each community. Personal property includes merchandise, furniture, machinery, equipment, etc. but there are a number of exemptions. Please note that Personal Property in your domicile is Exempt; also note that Registered Motor Vehicles are not included in Personal Property, but are subject to a separate Motor Vehicle Excise Tax.  For more information, please see Personal Property Taxation FAQs.

A successful override will be added to the total tax levy to be borne by all taxable real and personal property.  In FY 2025, the valuation and therefore the tax percent portions are as follows as shown on our MA DOR Tax Rate Recapitulation sheet:

Property Class

Residential                  81.0280

Commercial                   6.5317

Industrial                        9.3477

Personal                        3.0926

(business assets)

Total                           100.0000

40. What impacts do proposed development have on the Town's operating budget? 

Residential, commercial and industrial development can increase the tax base, leading to more revenue in the town operating budget. However, this revenue may not be “received” within the tax base for weeks or months up to a year. It is not in the form of a payment, but rather through the valuation of the assessed properties. Each individual development, or parcel improvement, made to a property (such as a redevelopment), is unique and is assessed on an individual parcel basis. Any current, proposed, or permitted development will not help the overall FY 2026 budget deficit.  Only the additional qualifying physical improvements in place since July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 may contribute to the tax levy base, and the annual estimate of this amount has already been factored into the FY 2026 budget work.

In accordance with the provisions of Proposition 2 ½ Massachusetts uses a mechanism called "New Growth" to account for the increased tax revenue from new construction, qualifying renovations (not repairs), and added personal property (taxable business assets) which are then added to the annual tax levy. The Town is required to have the MA DOR certify its New Growth and its full valuation annually prior to setting the Tax Rate.  New development can lead to higher property valuations, resulting in more tax revenue for municipalities, however, market level value changes do not contribute to growth. Municipalities do add the increase in tax revenue due to New Growth to their Tax Levy Limit, effectively increasing the amount they can collect in taxes. While new development can provide a much-needed boost to municipal revenue, it's crucial to carefully manage the associated costs and ensure that municipalities can effectively meet the needs of any population growth. The time to define the estimated valuation, estimated tax levy revenue and potential costs to the town (schools, infrastructure, public safety, etc.) of a proposed development is during the project’s public hearing process.

Oftentimes, a developer is required to compensate the town in the form of mitigation to address impacts of the project.  The Town may have revenue from those conditions, but these monies are not included in the town operating budget. The Town Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission all work with applicants on project mitigation during the public hearing process and these monies are spent under strict restrictions through a special revenue account.

Typically, during a permitting hearing for a project, a proponent may have estimated information on project revenue generation or costs to the town (schools, infrastructure, etc). However, a community never actually knows what the project valuation, revenue or costs are going to be until reality occurs. Market forces play a significant role. Furthermore, a project may be permitted, but may not actually break ground for years, experience delays, or the project may be phased in over several years, or even decades. Hence, the revenue from a project does not materialize until there is work in progress, “occupancy” and/or by discovery during state-mandated assessor property evaluations.  Some development may not get captured for several years depending on the circumstances.

The Assessors’ Office can be reached through their FranklinMA.gov website for more detailed information. The Board Members or the Staff would be happy to discuss property assessment.  They may be contacted by assessors@franklinma.gov email and/or by phone (508-520-4920) during normal business hours.

Additional info can be found on the Town FY 2026 Override page ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information

Frequently Asked Questions: FY 2026 Override

Letter from Ed Cafasso

Hello everyone,

I hope you enjoyed the stunning weekend weather.

As you know, Franklin voters will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, June 8, to decide a proposed $3 million override of Proposition 2½. If approved, approximately $300,000 will be used to restore municipal services, $1.8 million will be used to restore educational services, and $900,000 will be used to maintain roads throughout the town.

We need this money to stop the continued erosion of school and municipal services our community and to maintain our property values and quality of life.

Override votes can be a polarizing, which is not surprising when people’s money is at stake. 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. That’s the out-of-pocket cost, but please also keep in mind that your local property tax payments are deductible federally.

I am writing today to pass along the wealth of information available to you to explain the proposed override and what’s at stake with this vote – and to offer you the opportunity to become actively involved in the effort if you wish.

Here’s what’s available to you:

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

If you want to volunteer for the effort, please contact: Elise Nulton at lcnot@comcast.net or Deb Bartlett at bartlett.family@comcast.net. Both Elise and Deb are listed in the Franklin phone book; they would welcome your support.

Financial donations in any amount to defray the cost of the campaign are also welcome. Checks made out to “Invest in Franklin” can be mailed to the group’s treasurer, Deb Bartlett, 2 Eldon Drive, Franklin, MA, 02038.

There are a number of forums and meetings taking place throughout the community in the coming weeks to help our friends and neighbors learn more about why this vote is so important. On Monday, May 24, 2010, there will be a town-wide forum at the Mercer Auditorium at Horace Mann Middle School beginning at 7 p.m. Town officials will be on hand to present the facts and answer your questions. I plan to attend and hope to see you there.

The outcome of this override has implications for all the essential services on which you and your family rely in Franklin.

Your town and schools cannot continue to do more with less and still meet your expectations. From a public school perspective, Franklin now spends below the state average in every single category of measurement.
(See: http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/schfin/statistics/function09_sum.aspx?ID=101).

Yet our students – your children and grandchildren – enjoy one of highest performing school systems and rewarding academic experiences in Massachusetts. Every day, our schools work efficiently and well to earn your trust and support, as do our woefully under-funded police, fire and public works departments.

I hope the informational resources provided above give you an ample opportunity to learn more about the override, so you can cast an informed ballot on June 8. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

This e-mail reflects my opinion alone and is provided as a constituent service. 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

What You Need to Know to Make an Informed Vote on June 10th

The contents of a recent email from Tom Sousa representing the Franklin Cares email distribution listing is worth sharing here:


1. The Vote is Soon!
Voting will take place on June 10th at the Franklin High School Field House from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

2. The Proposed Override Will Average Only $243 per Household.
The override translates to an increased tax bill of only $243 per household. Since the tax payments are tax deductible, the after-tax cost is approximately $168 or about 50 cents a day.


3. Without the Override, You May End Up Spending More
You could be spending more per year by voting down the override because of cost increases for items such as pay-to-ride and athletic participation fees. If the override fails, there will be a $100 increase per student in the pay-to-ride bus, and cancellation of late bus service for students who need to stay after school for academic, clubs and extracurricular programs.

4. Franklin's Educational Spending is efficient.
Currently, Franklin is spending $2,200 less per pupil in 10 of the 11 State Department Education categories than the average in the state. We would have to add $13 million to the education budget just to be average spenders in the state.


5. Pink Slips Were Not Delivered for Dramatic Effect.
Teachers and administrators who received Pink Slips last week will indeed be gone if the override doesn't pass. This translates to a loss of approximately 43.5 teaching positions – 16 at Franklin high, 12.5 at the middle school level, and 15 at the elementary level.

6. It Will Be a Step Back for Franklin if Layoffs Occur.
The number of classroom teachers in Franklin is as follows:

School year	# of classroom teachers
2003-04	408
2004-05	459
2005-06	449
2006-07	466
2007-08	443

During that same time period, enrollment in the Franklin schools has increased by approximately 500 students and the Keller-Sullivan schools were opened. If the override is unsuccessful, the number of classroom teachers is expected to dip below 400 for the 2008-2009 school year, which means we will have less teachers than we had in 2003, but 500 more students and a new school facility.

7. Class Size Will Significantly Increase Without the Override.
The range for elementary school class sizes will increase to between 19 to 30 students per class. The middle school and high school will average roughly 25 to 30 students per class.

8. The Charter School Will be Impacted.
The Town of Franklin per pupil cost directly drives state re-imbursement for the Charter School. If we spend less, the Charter School will get less.


9. Unemployment Costs the Town.
If the town rejects the override, it is liable for up to $675,000 in unemployment for the laid-off teachers and administrators.

10. Families With Young Kids Are the Lowest Voting Population in Franklin
Regardless of how you vote, make your voice heard about this issue. Absentee ballots are one solution for busy families who want to be heard. Absentee ballots can be submitted at the Town Clerk's Office, 355 East Central Street, between 9am and 4pm. The deadline for absentee ballots is noon on June 9th.

Town Council positions on the override - Nov 2019

During the run up to the Town of Franklin local election in November 2019, we shared the interviews with many of the candidates for the Town Council and School Committee.

One of the questions asked the Town Council candidates was:

“The Town Administrator has suggested that Franklin needs to consider an override measure. What actions will you take for this? “

Note these answers were provided by the candidates in the run up to the election. This is the historical record of their position at that time. The successful candidate positions are shared here. The full listing is provided in the link below.

*** Town Council answers

• Eamon McCarthy Earls

EE - I think it's a great question. Certainly we've been faced with some very trying times. A lot of it ties back to escalating costs for health care and our overall pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities which continue to mount and which probably nobody back in 1980 was concerned with or fully cognizant of how much it would cost.

I think it's ultimately a decision that rests with the voters. I would support offering that as an option to the voters to decide. I think it's really important to have that participation in something so critical in our town. I'm sure it will be a hard fought issue. Franklin residents have had debates in the past about budgets and cuts. Questions of overrides came up particularly the late 2000s. So I think really letting each side make their case will be really important.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/franklin-candidate-interview-eamon.html

• Melanie Hamblen

Audio interview https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/fm-173-this-internet-radio-show-or.html

• Tom Mercer

TM = First, we’ll need to monitor the towns’ budget situation closely throughout the year as the Town Administrator and Superintendent build their budgets. I’d expect that we would have a reasonable number in late January. My guess is the next Town Council and School Committee will have to discuss an override, how much and for what and what the community strategy may be.

At this point, I support and hope a discussion will occur next year on discussing with taxpayers a revenue increase. As the Town Administrator has stated numerous times, the cost of doing business is far exceeding our ability to raise revenue. Construction costs, personnel costs and Heath care costs are increasing at a rate that has put stress on the system relative to service demand. It’s a partial symptom of a good economy for sure. And it’s something we need to really engage a wider audience in the community on. Everyone will need to be involved. As ultimately any override is a decision made by the Community as a whole not the Town Council. It is the Town Council’s job to provide the community with all the facts so they can make an informed decision.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/franklin-candidate-interview-tom-mercer.html

• Andrew Bissanti

AB = I think ultimately what's going to happen is the council is going to push the override to a ballot and let the people decide. That seems to be rhetoric from the existing council right now. I think it's only fair that way. I want to make a rational decision. How it's going to affect dollars, and the people of Franklin. Whatever the greater good is for Franklin. I don't want to see services to the town and infrastructure suffer. Careful study and examination and reporting will and is being conducted and we will have more facts soon.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/franklin-candidate-interview-andrew.html

• Robert Dellorco

Audio interview https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/fm-179-franklin-candidate-interview.html

• Matt Kelly

MK = So I'm on the budget subcommittee and I'm probably one of the more vocal people on the budget subcommittee. I know I didn't make any friends with the School Committee when I told them that I didn't necessarily agree with their budget. Councilor Mercer and I are the only two that were on the School Committee prior to being on the Town Council. I wish there was a prerequisite so that everybody would have to do that because I think you learn a lot.

Looking at the budget, I don't think we're ready for an override yet and there's a number of factors for this. I don't see that the budget has all the fluff cut out of it and I don't see any clear projection of numbers. I agree, that our administration is telling the truth when they say that it's getting tight, but I also understand that a lot of people out there are getting tight on their budgets too. We need to look at what our plan is, is it a reduction in our budget, and an override? Who knows right now and now isn’t the time to ask our citizens either. We have to consider what this going to do to our senior population. That has increased tremendously for people in our town. People on fixed incomes, we need to look at what it will do to them as well. There needs to be a conversation with our town’s people before you start talking override.

That's the business side of it. The human aspect is that times are too good for people to believe that we need an override. We're adding firefighters, adding police officers and there's no visible pain. You might see that we need more DPW workers or your road isn't getting done fast enough, but people don't want to vote for things until there's pain, number one. Number two, when the people complain that they're going off to pay for high school parking, then town council comes running to their rescue and says, “oh, no, we're going to give you that money in the budget.” It's not the time for an override. We should be able to say to our citizens, we can't find any money before we say override.

The reality is, I am going to be very, very stingy when it comes to saying we need an override because I'm going to pay for it just like you are.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/franklin-candidate-interview-matt-kelly.html 


*** School Committee

The School Committee candidates did not get that question. The questions they answered as shown here.

• There are and have been many opportunities to volunteer with community groups in Franklin. Have you taken advantage of any of these? Which ones, and why did you choose that/those?
• Where do you get your news about Franklin?
• The possibility of a change in school start times was a recent controversial topic taken up by the School Committee. Where do you stand on the issue of school start times in Franklin and what actions do you plan to take around this issue during the next term of the School Committee?
• While the current School Committee has attempted to reach the community through various forms of communication including coffee chats, email newsletters, attending events such as the farmers market, etc., they have been generally unsuccessful at increasing the engagement with important issues related to the schools. What actions will you take to increase citizen engagement with the School Committee?
• The Town Administrator has suggested that the School Committee investigate the possibility of closing Davis Thayer Elementary as a possible cost-saving mechanism for the town in these tight economic times. Where do you stand on this issue and what actions will you take to support your stance?
• Why should I vote for you?

The Election Collection can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html

All precincts vote on Nov 5, 2019 in one location, Franklin High School

 

Simple choice - maintain or cut

As demand for services rise our staff levels continue to fall. There are two unpleasant solutions to this problem. Continue to reduce services or increase taxes.

An override will be requested for the FY 06 Budget. I estimate it will require approximately $4 million to maintain the level of services that currently exist. A successful override will allow us to balance the budget in the short term but in the long run the fundamental gap between revenues and expenses will arise creating the same problem in the future. The only long-term solution will depend upon changing the the tax laws to curtail the over reliance on the property tax as the primary source of funding local government.

The override is intended to address the current financial problems. It does not address the need to upgrade the high school, reconstruct roads and sidewalks, or fund a hugh unfunded health insurance obligation. These issues will have to be addressed over the next three years.

From the FY 2005 Budget Statement (PDF) published by Jeff Nutting in April 2004. This quote can be found on the bottom of page 11. The override mentioned was held in November 2004 and it failed by a 1,148 votes.

The future fiscal years beyond FY 07 will be difficult to deal without additional revenues. Please carefully review pages 4-6 titled FY 08 Budget Projections. You will note that with a very modest 2.5% increase in general costs along with increases in energy, health insurance, etc. the town will face a multi-million dollar shortfall. The 2.5% increase is not adequate to provide the same level of services that are currently provided and will lead to reductions in school/municipal services. realistically, the increase would need to be closer to 5% to maintain services. There is no way to avoid the eventual reality that our reserves are dwindling while our costs continue to rise faster than our revenues. I believe that FY 08 will be the year that difficult choices will have to be made in order to balance the budget.

From the FISCAL 2007 Annual Report published April 20, 2006 (PDF) by Jeff Nutting. The quote can be found on the bottom of page 2. The difficult choices mentioned did occur in FY 08 and resulted in the first operational override to pass in Franklin by a margin of 1,306 votes.

Final Comment - What do you get for your property taxes?
Franklin's property taxes are very reasonable. Unlike other taxes we pay, all of your property tax dollars remain in Franklin. The average tax bill in Franklin is $3,872. That amount provides high quality education, saves property and lives, plows your streets, provides library and recreational opportunities, and assists our senior citizens and veterans. When you need a paramedic, police officer, or other public service, they are a phone call away. Your tax dollars are used to improve your quality of life, and in the case of property owners, maintain and increase the value of your investment. In good times or bad, we strive to be prudent with your tax dollars and be responsive to your needs.

This is from the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Statement (PDF) as published by Jeff Nutting in March 2008. This quote can be found on the top of the last page, page 11.

As these quotes from the budget information provided during the past several years indicate, an override this year is not a surprise. We have a systemic issue that is not being addressed. We have avoided the painful choices by drawing down the stabilization fund. It is no longer a smart fiscal choice to make. The choice remaining is to cut services (in this case educational services for our children) or raise taxes.

Put all the other arguments aside: Do you want to maintain our quality educational services or do we start cutting deeper than we have before?

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Learn all you can by visiting here frequently.

Visit the School Committee override page for the schedule of information sessions

You can find override related information here

Be informed to cast your vote on June 10th