In the Globe - election results

"Our option is to carry out the mandate of the voters, which was to preserve the lowest possible tax rate and accept eroding services," said Stephen Whalen, vice chairman of Franklin's Town Council, of the 4143 to 3820 vote defeating the tax hike. About 40 percent of local voters turned out to cast ballots, he said.

Whalen said, among other cuts, his town would likely slash teaching jobs, be reduced to a single ambulance crew, and be forced to raise high school athletic fees "significantly," a move that worried him.

" I think the mark of a great community is that every kid has access to top-notch public education, and raising fees like that turns us into a town of haves and have-nots," he said.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/budgetblues/2010/06/concord_upton_voters_approve_o.html

Franklin, MA

In the News - election results

"I'm surprised it didn't pass, and I'm surprised the turnout wasn't higher," Feeley said. "... There is no waste, and cuts will be made."

He said claims that children of override opponents were mistreated at school are false and insulting to teachers.

"If it (were true), someone needs to step forward," Feeley said.

Read the full article here:

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1932553637/Franklin-voters-say-no-to-override



Franklin, MA

Creative Commons explained

This neat little video explains copyright and the creative commons license.



My work here is for non-commercial use, share-alike, modification with attribution.

Thanks to FreeTech4Teachers for the pointer to this video.

Franklin, MA

More 'Yes' than 2008, but not enough

In comparison to the 2008 failed override, there was a gain in Yes votes and less No votes as the margin narrowed.

In 2008, the override failed by a vote of 4290 to 3382.
In 2010, the override failed by a vote of 4143 to 3820.

Precinct	Yes Chg	No Chg
1	103	-26
2	22	-27
3	74	-22
4	42	-23
5	58	-7
6	52	-33
7	60	-29
8	7	20
	418	-147

A comparison of the 2010 to 2007 and 2010 to 2008 is shown below:

Franklin, MA

Override fails by 323

7966 voters cast their ballots, 4143 against and only 3820 for the override hence failing by 323 votes. (Yes, 3 people went to vote but their ballot did not count. Either they did not fill in the circle one way or another or they filled in both circles.)

Precinct	Yes	No	Blank	Totals
1	491	512	0	1003
2	402	505	2	909
3	300	631	1	932
4	610	538	0	1148
5	413	464	0	877
6	395	520	0	915
7	697	431	0	1128
8	512	542	0	1054
	3820	4143	3	7966

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: special election ballot

Franklin, MA: special election ballot, originally uploaded by shersteve.

This is what the ballot looks like. I hope all registered Franklin voters get to see one of these today.

One question, requires a circle on the 'yes' or 'no'

Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $3,000,000.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the operating budget for which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, two thousand and ten?

If you haven't yet, please go VOTE!

Franklin, MA: Vote June 8th

All the discussion on the pros and cons has lead to this day

It is time to vote

Go to the high school field house between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM

to cast your ballot