Time: 2 minutes, 57 seconds
MP3 File
Learn all you need to by visiting here frequently.
Visit the School Committee override page for the schedule of information sessions
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 *
I am troubled by the declining participation of the Franklin budget in the school area.
Yes, the school budget increases year to year. The school enrollment has increased, the costs have, and yet since 2003 as outlined earlier, there have also been 80 plus positions eliminated from the school department. The positions affected all areas of the operation; teachers, administrators, custodians.
Now would be a good time for Franklin to step up to the plate and help turn the tide on the declining participation in the future of our children.
Note: These numbers come from the table found in the Executive Summary on page 1 of the Town Administrator's budget page (PDF) here. I used the Fiscal Year, School Budget, and Percent Local Funding columns to create this chart. If there are any errors, please let me know.
Be informed to cast your vote on June 10th
Yes, the answer to picture #47 is the Church of the Latter Day Saints on Jordan Road.
ltsjs, can you send me an email with your answer and let someone else try to guess in the comments? Assuming you are first and correct, you'll still get credit. You would help let others participate.
Stay tuned for the next opportunity.
Thanks to all for playing!
The situation is not unique to Franklin: the elderly are pitted against young people in a battle to pass a Proposition 2-1/2 tax override that keeps schools competitive during budget crises.
Seniors on fixed incomes speak out about their struggle to pay for basic needs and hang onto their homes, while those who are the voice of another vulnerable population - children - endure attacks for proposing a tax increase.
Now that Franklin is in the throes of an override battle, School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy is urging citizens to appeal to their senators (Sens. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, and Karen Spilka, D-Ashland) to pass a bill permitting towns to exempt eligible seniors from tax overrides.
On Feb. 28, the House overwhelmingly (111-34) passed Bill No. 2840, which gives Franklin's Town Council the ability to give this tax break to seniors aged 65 or older with a family income of $60,000 or less (if their real estate tax payments exceed 10 percent of their total income). The bill was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Ethics and Rules Committee.
Read the remainder of the article in the Milford Daily News here
--------------------
A group of women playing Scrabble at the Franklin Senior Center recently said a bill protecting them from override taxes ``sounds good'' to them.
``Oh yes, definitely,'' said senior Clare Flynn.
The women ``don't make nearly $60,000,'' and their Social Security income is so low, they are considered to be living in ``poverty,'' they said, laughing and adding they would like to be given the same tax breaks as billionaires.
An exemption would not automatically compel them to vote in favor of a Proposition 2« tax override, however, they said.
``It would depend on what the override is for, if it seemed they (town officials) spent money foolishly, and why they reached the point where they'd have to call for an override,'' Flynn said.
``If the money really would go for what they're saying, then I'd consider it,'' she said.
Read the full article in the Franklin Gazette here
Just as they did last year, town and school leaders are inviting the public to host neighborhood forums at their homes to answer questions about the $2.8 million Proposition 2 1/2 tax override, School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said Friday.
The vote will be June 10.
The funds would go directly to schools to prevent about 15 layoffs in elementary schools, 12.5 teaching positions at middle schools, 17 teacher jobs at Franklin High School, elimination of the late bus, and an increase of $100 (to $325) for pay-to-ride busing.
"We will go any time, any place, to answer any questions," Roy said. "That means bringing members of the School Committee, Finance Committee, Town Council, as well as the Town Administrator (Jeffrey D. Nutting) and school superintendent (Wayne Ogden) out to people's homes - we show up as a group." Last year, town leaders spoke to audiences of about 10 to 30 people at neighborhood forums, Roy said.
Having face-to-face conversations with people was "extremely effective" last year, he said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Not every parent wants another tax increase this year to protect schools from massive layoffs, and some childless homeowners say they will vote for the $2.8 Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question that will go before voters June 10.
Residents interviewed at random yesterday had mixed feelings about the override Town Council recently voted to put on a ballot.
"I say, for the schools, for the kids, I would be for it. I don't have kids, but I've been in town my whole life," resident Mike Ficco said yesterday.
"I've watched the town succeed since I was a little kid. Franklin is going in the right direction," said Ficco, adding that he is willing to pay more in taxes to ensure it doesn't go in the wrong direction, as he has noticed in other towns.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Town Council voted 7-1 last night to place a $2.8 million Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question on a June 10 ballot.
All of the money would be directed toward schools, which officials reported will have about 45 layoffs (mostly teachers), program cuts, increased class sizes, elimination of the late bus, and a $100 fee increase for pay-to-ride busing without a tax override.
The override would not enable the School Department to add staff, but merely maintain teachers in a growing district, Superintendent Wayne Ogden has said. Schools need more money every year because of mandatory expenses such as contract obligations (salaries), stipends, health insurance, special education and utilities, Ogden has said.
The override would cost the average homeowner $243 a year, according to Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting's estimate.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here