F. HEARINGS - Annual Tax Classification Hearing – 7:10 PM
DeBaggis, Norman, Doyle, Feeley
Tax rate increase from 11.17 to 12.03%
When property values go down, why does the rate still go up?
Basically, the Town takes the prior tax levy and adds 2.5%, including the new growth and debt exclusions results in the total new tax levy for the Town budget.
How is the value of my house not reflected in the assessment?
Dealing with the 2008 calendar year data for this cycle. 2009 is not complete as we are only in December, so the State mandates use of the prior full year data. There is a lag in the data used.
Assessments will go online in the next couple of days and should be available on the Town Assessors website.
Q - Powderly - If we are constrained by prop 2.5% why is my bill going up more than 2.5%
A - the Prop 2.5 is applied at the Town tax levy and not at the individual residence level.
Q - Zollo - How come you don't get good assessments for commercial/industrial properties? I have heard that there is the lag effect and lack of comparable data points.
A - Those are comments I have heard about 3-4 years ago. I don't think there is an inequity now.
Q - Most citizens believe that the assessed values are close to fair market value, but there are commercial properties where there might be some differences.
A - Residential is assessed at the fair market value so it is easy to compare. Commercial property is assessed on a number of factors (cost, market, industry) only one of which is the fair market value. The full valuation process is determined by the State. There may be a perception or feeling that we might have missed something but the values have to be qualified.
Q - I am hearing these frequently. The most important thing we can do is to fight to change the perception.
Nutting - I want to reinforce Assessor Feeley's point on the commercial process being an apples to oranges approach compared to the residential process. The assessors follow all the rules and regulations and then the State validates the numbers. Could one property be out of whack, it is possible.
Q - Whalen - a theoretical example to help get to the point that Councilor Zollo is making.
A - on that, for the benefit of the public, it is the rent and not the business entity that is the difference.
Q - How do we compare in assessment valuation dropping?
A - The jury is still out as other communities are going through the same process now.
Franklin has shown a less significant decline in residential valuation based upon the housing sales over the last 18 months.
Q - Last time you didn't want to make a recommendation on split vs. single?
A - We are not in the position to do so, our role is to provide the data.
Q - Have there been recommendations for split tax before?
A - No
Debaggis - Continue with the single tax rate as the school portion of the budget as the commercial/industrial does not benefit from the major portion of the budget.
Feeley - I concur with Mr DeBaggis for his point and I'd add two more. With the 80/20 split that we have, the commercial industrial contribute about $10M of the $50 million. The Police and Fire depts budgets along are close to this amount. Third, the split tax rate is not good for business especially when you consider the small businesses.
Whalen - Based upon the analysis I have done, Franklin has a lower single tax rate than most communities with split tax rates.
Mason - mentioned that Attleboro just passed their tax rate which is split and provided a lower rate to businesses to stem the loss of 107 businesses over the past year.
I spoke up about the single vs split is not the issue, we need to grow the pie. The economic development efforts of the community to grow the tax levy as sustain the level of services we want.
Zollo -
Powderly - I would like the argument articulated in a single pager for citizens to reference.
Motion to close the hearing
Approved - 8-0
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Live reporting - Appointments
E. APPOINTMENTS
Liaison to the State Ethics Commission (Debbie Pellegri)motion to approve 8-0 (Whalen arrived)
Council on Aging (Mary Hick, Ken Norman)motion to approve 8-0
Live reporting - Town Council
Attending: Kelly, Jones, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Zollo, Powderly, Whalen (late)
Missing: Vallee.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 21, 2009; November 4, 2009
motion to approve, passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1st H1N1 Dec 10th 4:00 - 8:00 PM at FHS Field House
according to CDC guidelines
Congratulations to FHS and Tri-County Football teams for making it to the playoffs.
Goal setting session 12/9/09 6:00 PM
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
John Maloney - comments on the Quinn Bill and the effect of recent cuts.
(video will be available on the Town website)
referencing case law that Quinn bill benefits should not be cut by the local community
Only dept that requires a minimum of an associates degree as a requirement for employment
Suggestion to visit the Police Association website for additional information
Missing: Vallee.
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 21, 2009; November 4, 2009
motion to approve, passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
1st H1N1 Dec 10th 4:00 - 8:00 PM at FHS Field House
according to CDC guidelines
Congratulations to FHS and Tri-County Football teams for making it to the playoffs.
Goal setting session 12/9/09 6:00 PM
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
John Maloney - comments on the Quinn Bill and the effect of recent cuts.
(video will be available on the Town website)
referencing case law that Quinn bill benefits should not be cut by the local community
Only dept that requires a minimum of an associates degree as a requirement for employment
Suggestion to visit the Police Association website for additional information
Finance Committee Meeting 12/1/09
The live reporting for the Finance Committee (FINCOM) meeting on Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
In the News - Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meeting was reported on in the Milford Daily News here:
More funds sought for jobless benefits
Franklin 2009 Annual Report
For some good reading, the 2009 Annual Report is now available.
You can access this file from the Town Clerk's web page here (pdf0.
You can also find the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004 Annual Reports (PDF) files here
You can access this file from the Town Clerk's web page here (pdf0.
You can also find the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004 Annual Reports (PDF) files here
CDC FluView: H1N1 Activity
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Public Health by Julia Hurley on 12/1/09
Every week the CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes key findings in a report called FluView. There has been significant media coverage of the report released yesterday covering flu activity for November 15-21 citing a decrease in H1N1 activity. It is important to realize, however, that while activity has decreased in some key indicators it has also increased in others. For example, the report states that thirty-two states are still reporting widespread influenza activity at this time, including Massachusetts.
While some of these numbers make it seem that the H1N1 flu season has peaked, it is simply too soon to know if it is actually on the decline in Massachusetts. Every flu pandemic is unique so only time will tell if these downturns will continue. In the meantime, it is more important than ever that everyone continue to practice good health hygiene to help prevent getting or spreading any type of flu. Be sure to cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your elbow instead of into your hand, and wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after you cough or sneeze. Finally, be sure to get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine as soon as they are available to you.
You can read the full FluView every week on the CDC's website at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
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