Franklin Matters

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Frequently asked questions: "Why is Franklin continually facing budget gaps?"

Why is the school district continually facing budget gaps?

Franklin, as with many Massachusetts municipalities, is faced with structural deficits as costs and services rise faster than the available 2.5% increase of annual tax revenues. Health insurance, retiree health insurance, contractual obligations, and unfunded federal and state mandates result in cost increases that outpace the 2.5% annual increase limit. To become more fiscally sound, Franklin needs to continue to operative efficiently and keeping cost relatively low while and generating additional tax revenues in order to provide the high level of services that citizens desire but at a reasonable financial cost to such citizens.

What has the School Committee and administration done to budget in a fiscally conservative manner?

Over the last 10 years, Franklin has (i) significantly reduced and/or eliminated programs and positions (over 100) while meeting higher educational standards/accountability requirements as established by federal and state law, (ii) consolidated facilities and technology services, and (iii) effectively sought and received grants to offset a variety of operational costs. Moreover, Franklin has implemented a number of “Go Green” energy savings initiatives including (A) solar panels at Parmenter Elementary School, and (B) water gardens at Franklin High School. Finally, Franklin has implemented a variety of online services to reduce personnel costs and paper consumption.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "What is a Proposition 2½ override?"

What is Proposition 2½?

Proposition 2½ was a Massachusetts ballot initiative that became state law when the voters approved it in 1980. The law puts a 2.5-percent cap on the amount of money a community can raise through property taxes from year to year, not counting revenue from the assessed value of new construction and building improvements.

It is important to understand that Proposition 2½ does not say that your property taxes cannot increase more than 2.5-percent a year. It simply says that the total amount of money raised through property taxes, known as the “tax levy,” cannot increase more than 2.5-percent annually. In addition, a community can increase its levy limit each year to reflect new growth in taxable properties.

What is a Proposition 2½ override?

There are three different ways a community can increase its property taxes above the levy limit. What the town of Franklin is considering putting before the voters is an override of its levy limit, which would increase the limit by a specific amount.

The other ways for a community to change how Proposition 2½ would apply are through a debt exclusion, which temporarily excludes from the levy limit an amount of money to pay for new debt, and a capital outlay exclusion, which allows a community to raise its levy limit for one year for the purpose of funding a specific capital project. In the past, Franklin voters have approved debt exclusions to build new schools.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

June brings water restrictions to Franklin

"April showers bring May flowers,
June brings water restrictions to Franklin"

It is that time again. Franklin in order to abide by the water permit issued by MA needs to implement water restrictions. As reported in the Finance Committee budget hearing earlier this year, Franklin is challenging the permit issued as it restricts our usage in impractical ways.

In the meantime, Franklin residents can only water on their trash day and NOT during the hours 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The signs are posted in the normal traffic spots and water restrictions can be enforced by the limited staffing available.

Franklin, MA

In the News - wrestling, circus, library

By Melanie Graham/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 03, 2010 @ 12:18 AM

Last update Jun 03, 2010 @ 01:05 AM

FRANKLIN —

Some know him as Sgt. Muldoon of the New York City Police Department.

Without his uniform, handcuffs and nightstick, though, most people recognize him as John Callahan, a Milford native and Franklin resident who wrestled professionally for 20 years.

Read the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x1218689187/Former-pro-wrestler-says-hed-do-it-all-over-again

By Staff reports

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 03, 2010 @ 01:19 AM

FRANKLIN —

Vidbel's Old Tyme Circus will set up its tent on Thursday, June 10, outside Pirelli Veterans Skating Arena, 910 Panther Way. There will be two performances, under the big top, at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. View the circus tent and equipment set-up at 9 a.m.

Read the article here:

http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1218689079/Vidbels-Olde-Tyme-Circus-coming-to-Franklin

By Krista Perry/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 03, 2010 @ 12:12 AM

FRANKLIN —

The Town Council last night agreed to continue the deal with Medway to share library services.

The agreement, which began last July, allows Library Director Felicia Oti to spend two-thirds of her time in Franklin and one-third in Medway, said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. The deal also allows for sharing maintenance services.

Read the article here

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x1218689183/Franklin-to-continue-sharing-library-staff-with-Medway

Franklin, MA

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Town Council - 06/02/10

The collection of posts reported Live from the Town Council meeting on June 2nd can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Third Thursday coming up June 17th, Museum will be open

L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - question on EPA files clearing NUstyle building from several years ago, former chief had indicated they were received
Nutting - He has had several reports of files clearing site from EPA, those files have not been found in Jeff's nine years here; subsequent visits have found contamination which would make the files mute anyway

M. NEW BUSINESS

McGann - do we have consultants working in the schools on a reading program?

was there a contract signed for the school secretaries, what were the details? apparently more senior members got different increases than those junior

(Yes, this was covered in the School Committee meeting on April 13th. No amounts were referenced although it was claimed to be a 'minimal' increase.)

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

McGann - encourage everyone to get out to vote, let's see what happens

Powderly - thanks to Bob Fahey for the veterans breakfast, a great effort to recognize the folks involved

thanks to Jeff Nutting for the municipal agreement with Medway on the library, this is a small but significant step to help

Jones - thanks to Kelly and the Rotarians for the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies

Whalen - get out an vote, a yes vote gets to maintain services; a no vote will further erode our services

Mason - With regards to the citizens comment from the firefighters, I respect your position. The Council has been instructed not to get involved in the negotiations. The Town Administrator is negotiating on behalf of the Town.

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

roll call 6-0 ( all present yes)

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Action items

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –
Nutting - first four are an annual house keeping accounting move to re-established these revolving accounts before the budget is passed.

1. Resolution 10-24: Establishment of a Fire Department Fire Rescue Training Revolving Account for FY 2011 motion to accept, passed 6-0
2. Resolution 10-25: Establishment of a Council on Aging Senior Center Activities Program Revolving Account for FY 2011 motion to accept, passed 6-03. Resolution 10-26: Establishment of a Council on Aging Supportive Day Program Revolving Account for FY 2011 motion to accept, passed 6-04. Resolution 10-27: Establishment of a Use of Facilities Revolving Account for FY 2011
motion to accept, passed 6-0

Q - McGann
how is the facility resolving account handled?
Nutting - based upon the usage of the facility, there is a fee charged to provide for maintenance, etc.

5. Resolution 10-28: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Library
motion to accept, passed 6-0

Acceptance of gift of $15,000 for library books
Whalen, I'd like to thank these folks for their dedication and generosity

6. Resolution 10-29: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Medway for Franklin to Provide Library Administrative and Maintenance Services to Medway
motion to accept, passed 6-0

Nutting - continuation of program started last year, 2/3 here, 1/3 there saves Franklin money, provides Medway with a director, keeps both libraries open

7. Bylaw Amendment 10-648: Chp. 151, Solid Waste; § 151-1. Definition –1st Reading
motion to move to a second meeting, passed 6-0

Allows Chris White to enforce violations in addition to Board of Health as the personnel in the BOH was cut

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Residential Key Box

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS –

Residential Key Box Program
Fire Chief McCarragher

residential version to access keys to the house especially in cases where there are elderly
saves family members from traveling across town or from out of town to provide access for fire personnel
voluntary program, applications and information available at the Fire Station or on the Fire Dept web page

no cost to the town, the vendor cost is $119.00 plus $14.00 for shipping/handling

already in this edition of the Municipal Services guide

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Town Council

Present: Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, McGann, Powderly
Absent: Kelly, Pfeffer, Zollo

Motion to appt Powderly as temporary clerk
passed 6-0

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 5, 2010
motion to approve, passed 6-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
June 8th special election for the override

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bob Donavan, firefighter, union president

without a contract for three years, no raise for four years

not trying to negotiate, it is becoming personal

no picketing, no work stoppage, no demands

want to have both sides heard, apparently going to arbitration

not trying to stop the process

E. APPOINTMENTS - none

F. HEARINGS none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS none

Franklin, MA

Vote June 8th

No matter your position, whether for

or against

The real action is to VOTE on June 8th!

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "What other federal and state funds support the Franklin's school operating budget?"

What other federal and state funds support the school department’s operating budget?

Franklin regularly seeks federal and state grants to supplement the operational budget. During FY 2010 Franklin received $2,784,792 in grants to provide additional staffing and supplemental services to meet the needs of students.

What are some other sources of financial support for the Franklin Public Schools?

The district receives significant financial support from within the community to advance the mission and vision of the school district; the loss of which would be detrimental. Annual gGrants and support are received from the: (i) Franklin Education Foundation, (ii) Music Boosters, (iii) Athletic Booster Clubs, (iv) Parent Communication Councils (PCC), etc.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-2.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "Can the town guarantee that the funds from the override will always be spent exactly the same way?"

The wording of the ballot question asks for $3 million, but I am told $1.8 million will be used to maintain services in schools, $300,000 to maintain town services and $900,000 for road repair. Can the town guarantee that the funds from the override will always be spent exactly the same way?

Only for one year. There are some states where property taxes are divided into school taxes and other taxes, but that is not the case in Massachusetts. All property tax revenues flow into the town's general fund, and the Town Council can only allocate money from the general fund one year at a time, based on the town's priorities and needs. This provides flexibility in case circumstances change; one year the Police could need more money and the next, it could be the Library.

The override will balance the budget and prevent a major deficit. It will increase the amount of money in the general fund that Franklin will have available to meet our town's needs in future years, providing better financial flexibility to help the schools, police, public safety and library, as well as other important services. The percentage of Franklin's budget allocated to each town department has been relatively stable from year to year, and it would take extreme financial circumstances for the Town Council to attempt to dramatically change the budget. Although they cannot legally make any guarantees, the Town Council and Town Administrator have clearly stated their intention of adhering to the numbers given in the override question in future years.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

"I will vote yes, for my children, for the teachers and for the future of Franklin"

Cronin: Vote yes on Franklin override

from Wicked Local Franklin Opinions RSS by Kaitlyn Cronin/Franklin

Read the full letter to the editor in the Wicked Local edition here
http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/news/opinions/x514811860/Cronin-Vote-yes-on-Franklin-override

Franklin, MA

In the News - BYSO, Memorial Day, football, Senior Expo

Local students to perform with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Parades of Patriotism

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

In Franklin, parade participants and observers gathered on the common for the town's Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony.

Organized by Town Councilor and Rotary Club Fundraising Chairman Matt Kelly, the parade began at 80 West Central St. and featured school bands and local organizations.

After Girl Scouts laid wreaths upon the common's Veterans Monument, Master of Ceremonies Lt. Col. John Reitinger read the Franklin Honor Roll - a list of 37 veterans who died this year.

He said that for the first time in 27 years, more Korean and Vietnam veterans had died than World War II vets.

Franklin football clinic in July

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin Senior Expo June 11

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Frequently asked questions: "Why do some citizens disagree with rating agencies about Franklin’s debt?"

Why do some citizens disagree with rating agencies about Franklin’s debt?

There are some assumptions about municipal borrowing that may seem contrary to the average person. Think of it this way. Individuals need to borrow money and then pay it back in order to establish their credit rating. Cities and towns do too. It is actually in the best interest of a city or town to carry debt. Most folks that buy a house want to pay off the mortgage as fast as they can. Eventually, they sell their home; hopefully make a profit; and, someone else takes on the mortgage. In the case of Franklin, however, the Town and its taxpayers own public property forever. We have hundreds of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure (buildings, parks, roads, schools, utilities) that need to be maintained, replaced, repaired, expanded, etc., on an ongoing basis to meet community needs.

Just as homeowners take out loans for additions, improvements or repairs to their property, the Town borrows money for similar purposes. In the case of city or town, ongoing manageable debt is one indicator of the fiscal strength because it demonstrates that the community is committed to taking care of important community property.

If we do not re-invest in our infrastructure in a timely manner, the overall appearance and operations of the Town suffers. The failure to invest would eventually hurt property values. Who wants to live in a town with a crumbling infrastructure? Every homeowner knows that structural problems don’t go away, they just get more expensive to fix.

Our goal as a Town is to maintain a debt level between 3.5% and 4% of our general fund revenues. This is a standard range for many municipalities. Our estimated FY 10 general fund revenue (excluding the debt exclusions) is $90,011,796 and our general fund debt is $3,283,433 or 3.6% of our general fund revenues. If we equate it to the average homeowner with a household income of $60,000 per year, the mortgage payment would be $2,160 per year or $180 per month.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "How does per pupil spending in Franklin compare with others?"

How does per pupil spending in Franklin compare with spending in other Massachusetts communities?

Based on data released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Finance, as of FY 2009, Franklin's per pupil expenditures are $10,010 while the state average is $13,060. Our spending per pupil is 23% less than the state average. Three years ago, when speaking about the budget, we noted that Franklin was below the state average in 9 of 11 categories of education spending. The only areas where we outspent other Massachusetts communities were in classroom teachers and instructional materials. Two years ago, Franklin slipped further. With the continued education cuts, Franklin fell below the state average in 10 of 11 categories. Last year, we predicted that with the loss of more teachers, Franklin was sure to dip below on all 11 categories next year. The latest data from DESE shows that it has, indeed, happened.

By most objective measures Franklin’s School District outperforms its peer districts. Based on these two facts, most observers believe that Franklin Public Education is a tremendous, cost-effective value when weighing the achievement results against local taxpayer cost. To look for yourself at all of the data comparisons, try the District Analysis and Review Tool (DART) at the DESE website by linking to http://www.doe.mass.edu/sda/dart/. The DART offers a snapshot of district and school performance, allowing users to easily track select data elements over time, and make sound, meaningful comparisons to the state or to "comparable" organizations.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Intro to DCU

Thomaz Demoura, Branch Manager of the DCU branch here in Franklin, sent this information along to share. DCU is a member of the Franklin Downtown Partnership and of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce.

I joined a credit union with my first employer many years ago and while the credit union name has changed over time, the credit union services have improved and I am still a happy member. DCU has a great set of services available. One that caught my eye (being the techie I am) is an application that can scan a check and have it deposited to your account without having to drive to the ATM or talk to a teller. A future release of the application will enable an iPhone or one of the Droid phones to process the check in the same way. Now that is a good use of technology!

For further information about DCU you can stop by or call to speak with Thomaz.

Thomaz DeMoura | Franklin Branch Manager
Digital Federal Credit Union | 500 West Central St | Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508.553.9821 | Fax: 508.553.9825 | Email: tdemoura@dcu.org | www.DCU.org

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Canceling a Credit Card

http://balancepro.net/education/quicktips/ic/images/0510_main.jpg

Have you thought about canceling a credit card that is collecting dust in your dresser drawer? Or one that has been used so often you have the card number memorized? While closing a card sometimes makes sense, other times, it may do more harm than good. The following are some factors that are helpful to consider when deciding whether or not to cancel a credit card:

Fees: What will it cost you to keep the account open? Having a high interest rate does not necessarily matter because closing the account will not lower the interest rate on an existing balance (and you are not charged any interest if you pay off your balance in full each month). What is important is whether you are charged an annual fee and/or an inactivity fee. If you are new to credit or have a negative credit history, you may be hard-pressed to get approved for a card that does not charge these types of fees. However, if you have a good credit history, it may not make sense to keep a card that costs you money even if you pay your balance in full on time each month.

Ability to use credit without getting into debt: If you have struggled to control your spending in the past, consider if there are ways you can avoid overusing the cards short of canceling them. For example, can you leave them at home most of the time and only take them out once a month to buy a pack of gum or something else cheap? (You could also just keep an account open and not use it, but by doing this, you do not continue to build a positive payment history and also risk the account being closed by the creditor due to inactivity.) Honestly assess your capabilities and limitations.

Effect on credit score: Closing an account does not have an immediate effect on your payment history, which makes up 35% of your FICO credit score, since positive information for closed accounts typically stays on your credit report for ten years (seven for negative information). However, it can have a significant impact on the factor that looks at credit utilization (balances owed/credit limits), which accounts for 30% of your credit score. To have a good score, it is best to have a credit utilization ratio under 50%. If the amount owed relative to the credit limit is low for all of your accounts, then closing one account probably won’t have much of an effect (assuming you have multiple accounts). Conversely, if you have high balances, closing an account with a decent credit line can cause your score to plunge. If you fall into the second category, consider if having a good credit score is necessary right now. If you are applying for a mortgage or car loan in the next few months, it probably is. If you do not plan to get credit soon and feel that the only way to stay debt free is to close your cards, then that may be the best option, even if your credit score will suffer.

Provided by www.balancepro.net

Note: This continues my public service effort to understand and share what I learn about companies large and small doing business here in Franklin.

Franklin, MA

In the News - Danielle Hare

By Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 01, 2010 @ 04:44 AM

FRANKLIN —

It's all politics for Danielle Hare.

The 16-year-old Franklin resident is a member of YMCA's Youth & Government program and in April was selected to join a model legislation session at the Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina this summer.

Read the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x644096217/Franklin-teen-is-politically-inclined

Franklin, MA

Monday, May 31, 2010

Franklin, MA: Town Common Monuments

There are a number of monuments around the Town Common in Franklin honoring the sacrifice of those who served in each war. On Memorial Day, we give thanks for their service.

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "We wouldn’t be in a crisis if we hadn’t spent money on the senior center, fire station and new ball fields"

We wouldn’t be in a crisis if we hadn’t spent money on the senior center, fire station and new ball fields.

These projects are the most visible examples of the Town’s effort to maintain and improve its buildings and facilities for the benefit of the general community. The vast majority of the funding for these renovations comes from the town’s long-term capital improvements plan, also known as the “20/20 Plan.” This is money the town borrows as part of its ongoing effort to upgrade public facilities, streets, sidewalks and buildings. A small part of the town's annual operating budget is used to pay off the debt that funds capital improvements, the same way a homeowner would pay off a mortgage over time.

The last time the town built a new recreation facility was 1990. Since then, the population has increased by about 10,000 people. We built three schools in that time period to house the surge in students, but we did not build any recreational facilities for them. The Town made improvements to existing fields, added new fields, and brought back into use the field and track at the High School. The existing track had not been useable for many years.

The senior citizen population in Franklin continues to grow. It is currently projected that citizens over 60 will increase from about 4,200 to over 7,500 in the next ten years. The old senior center had just two rooms and minimal parking which was completely inadequate for our population and programs. The new center has seen a three fold increase in participation. It has become a focal point for older adults and their families with many varied programs, services and activities to address the needs and interests of our senior and disabled residents.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "Why don’t town employees fund their own pensions?"

Pension costs are killing us, so why don’t town employees fund their own pensions?

Public employees are generally not covered by Social Security and DO self fund their retirement through a municipal pension system. Teachers, for example, contribute as much as 11% of their annual salary to this program and local property taxes do NOT fund the system. State tax revenues fund a portion of current benefits but the majority of such revenues are allocated to the unfunded municipal pension liability (i.e., in fiscal 2008, 77 percent of the Commonwealth’s $1.3 billion contribution to State and Teachers’ Pensions covered the unfunded liability while 23 percent went to pay for current retiree benefits. Reference: http://www.middlesexretirement.org/Special_Commission_Report_9.09.pdf

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 6/2/10

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May 5, 2010

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS – Residential Key Box Program

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –
1. Resolution 10-24: Establishment of a Fire Department Fire Rescue Training Revolving Account for FY 2011
2. Resolution 10-25: Establishment of a Council on Aging Senior Center Activities Program Revolving Account for FY 2011
3. Resolution 10-26: Establishment of a Council on Aging Supportive Day Program Revolving Account for FY 2011
4. Resolution 10-27: Establishment of a Use of Facilities Revolving Account for FY 2011
5. Resolution 10-28: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Library
6. Resolution 10-29: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Town of Medway for Franklin to Provide Library Administrative and Maintenance Services to Medway
7. Bylaw Amendment 10-648: Chp. 151, Solid Waste; § 151-1. Definition –1st Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Franklin, MA

What in the world is free cash?

The first thing to remember is that it is not free and it is not cash, to quote a former Deputy Commissioner of Local Services. The Bureau of Accounts (BOA) defines free cash as the amount a community has accumulated when actual revenue collections exceed the budget estimates used when setting the tax rate and/or actual expenditures or encumbrances (committed funds not yet expended) are less than appropriations.

----

Since free cash is a non-recurring revenue source, good financial management dictates that it should not be relied upon to fund operating budgets but rather should be used for one-time purposes such as capital purchases or appropriations to supplement the stabilization fund.

From Dec 2000 MA Gov publication found here (PDF)

So what does this mean in everyday English?

Suppose in your household budget you allocate $100 per week for food. You track all expenses diligently and at the end of the period you realize that while the budget for the year was $5,200 you actually spent only $4,900. The difference between the budget amount and actual expenditures would be money that you can use for other purposes in the household. As controller of the household funds, this would be an easy decision. At the Franklin budget level, the funds need to be certified by the State before they can be determined as "free cash" and used for another purpose.

Suppose in your household budget, along the way, you realize that while you budgeted $100 for electricity, you tend to be running expenses more than $100. If you can cut your usage, you should try. Otherwise, at some point you need to find another account (source of money) to cover for running over budget. Combining the example above, you might be able to take the extra food money to cover for the electricity shortage. If you don't have such a source, then you look to cut something somewhere to meet the budget without going into debt.

Does this help?

Franklin, MA

In the News - art for Haiti

Franklin Art students take small step that counts big time for Haiti

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Emily Callahan Hughes/Daily News correspondent

Franklin, MA

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Frequently asked questions: "some people suggest we should adopt a split tax rate"

I have heard some people suggest we should adopt a split tax rate that makes businesses in Franklin pay more property taxes. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?

A split tax rate will not generate any additional funding. Think of the amount of money a town can raise from property taxes as a pizza. You can cut that pizza into four slices, eight slices or even more, but it is still the same pizza.

Proposition 2½, by law, prevents the amount that a community can raise from property taxes from increasing by more than 2.5% per year. A split tax rate would redistribute how much each class of property will pay in taxes, but it wouldn’t change the total amount of money the town could raise. If the town decided that commercial property owners should pay more, the tax rate for residential property would decrease but the total amount of the tax levy would stay exactly the same. Franklin would still have to pass a Prop 2 1/2 override for the town's total tax revenue to increase. The Franklin Board of Assessors and Town Council have opposed a split tax rate, arguing that a single rate creates an incentive for businesses to locate in Franklin.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

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The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Frequently asked questions: "Why do parents pay fees for their children to ride the bus?"

Why do parents pay fees for their children to ride the bus or participate in athletics?

Known as user fees, they were implemented to keep costs lower. Per state law, Franklin is only obligated to bus K-6 students that live at least two miles from school. Similar to 200+ Massachusetts communities, Franklin (i) collects a student pay-to-ride fee of $325, which represents two-thirds of the actual cost, and (ii) imposes athletic fees to help lower athletics’ cost or prevent their elimination. Importantly, the override will not result in decreased user or athletic fees but will only maintain current service levels and, if it fails, the School Committee will likely increase user and athletic fees.

One of a series to address frequently asked questions
http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/faq-part-1.html

------------

The special election on June 8th gives Franklin voters the choice:

Increase taxes to continue to provide the services we have this year (and that does not restore any of the services already cut)

Or

Continue to cut municipal services for all and cut educational opportunities for our children

I'll help to provide the information. You need to do two things:

Make your choice
Vote on June 8th

You get bonus points if you talk with your neighbors about this and get them to vote!

Additional information on the override can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Stephanie's Treasure Chest

The new thrift store downtown in the Berry Building had this street sign out on Saturday.

Updated: July 29, 2010
Unfortunately, the store is no longer in business

Franklin, MA

Franklin MA: Information Forum

The information forum was sparsely attended on Monday, May 24.

The presentation used by members of the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and Financial Planning Committee (long term plan) can be found here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/financial%20planning%20committee%20report/midyear.pdf

The video recording of the session can be viewed on demand on the Franklin website here:
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=mGsI6gdlM4Tf2oFU7LAn9g%3d%3d

Franklin, MA

Senior Center - Expo - June 11th

From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Friday, June 11th, the WMRC Senior Expo will be held at the Franklin Senior Center.

Additional details can be viewed in the flyer here:

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.

Franklin, MA

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

GA4