Friday, April 6, 2012

In the News - library, minibus


Franklin Library is recertified

Bay State Bike Week May 14-20

The bikers among us!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/5/12

Bay State Bike Week 2012

MassDOT invites you to join the 3rd annual Bay State Bike Week set for May 14-20, a week of celebrating bicycle transportation across the Commonwealth.  The MassDOT and MassBike partnership makes Bay State Bike Week a statewide celebration that is unique in the nation. 

Building on the previous two statewide Bike Weeks, MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES, our statewide travel options program, are again collaborating to raise awareness and to encourage bicycling transportation.  Biking is safe, economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, fast, and fun!

Event organizers are asked to submit your event for the website's statewide calendar and can join as a partner to be eligible to receive materials to support your event, including t-shirts, bike bells, reflectors and posters while supplies last.   Last year, Bay State Bike Week included more than 180 events statewide with participation from Orleans to Pittsfield.

May is fast approaching, so start planning now and mark May 14th to May 20th on your calendar for Bay State Bike Week.  Check out the Bay State Bike Week website at baystatebikeweek.org to find information for event organizers and participants.

Things you can do from here:

Summer Art Institute

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/5/12

Franklin Public Schools' Summer Art Institute is designed for students entering grades 6 through 12.
The following classes are for students entering grades 6 though 9
1. Drawing and Painting
2. Digital Photography
3. Ceramics and Sculpture
4. Paste Paper Workshop

Students entering grades 10 and 11 may be interested in Visual Literacy. Drawing, painting and mixed media/collage will be the focus of this class.

Students entering grades 11 and 12 are eligible to enroll in Portfolio Preparation/Open Studio. This course is designed to provide additional art instruction, skill building, and portfolio preparation for students who are considering studying art at the college level or who enjoy being challenged to stretch their skills to more advanced levels.

These courses are open to students in Franklin and the surrounding communities. Please visit our website for registration information.
www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select lifelong, select summer programs

Things you can do from here:

Parmenter 5K - Jun 10

This year's 4th Annual Parmenter Fun Run for All Ages will be held on Sunday, June 10th at 10am.





You can register online here

For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com


March revenue better than last year but less than forecast

What has this got to do with Franklin? 
About 30% of our overall revenue comes from the Commonwealth of MA. Their income stream is up over last year but slightly less than they had forecast. The Governor released his budget in January and the House and Senate versions are being reviewed. What they provide for us helps to determine what services we'll be able to fund.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 4/5/12

Bliss for Blog IMG_9679_resized
 

Posted by:
Robert Bliss, Director of Communication, Department of Revenue


DOR released its March revenue report yesterday in which there were two story lines.
The monthly revenue report includes both a review of the month, with a comparison to the same month a year ago, as well as a review of revenue collection year-to-date(YTD) along with a comparison to the previous year's YTD.

While the press releases presents a written summary of the numbers, the one-page tax collection summary presents the actual revenue numbers.

Perusing that summary reveals that there was one revenue story for March -- namely, that corporate/business tax collections were $50 million below benchmark -- but a separate story for the YTD report, with tax collections running $87 million below benchmark due to less than forecast income tax collections.

Corporate and business tax collections had been running ahead of forecast for the first eight months of the year, but fell $50 million below benchmark in March (and $32 million less than March 2011) leaving the overall March revenue collection of $1.802 billion some $29 million below benchmark.

YTD, the explanation for revenue running $87 million below benchmark is found in income tax collections, which are up $270 million or 3.5 percent, but which have fallen $169 million short of forecast. Basically, it is fair to say that income tax revenue has gone up, but not as much as was built into the forecast.

Both YTD income tax withholding (up $260 million or 3.7 percent but still $74 million under benchmark) and income tax cash estimated payments (down $17 million from a year ago or 1.4 percent and $73 million below benchmark) are down.

As Commissioner Amy Pitter noted in the press release, "Withholding overall has grown, but at the rate forecast, while income tax cash estimated payments dropped off in December and since then have been flat, possibly reflecting a slow down in the collection of investment related income."

So with the big months of April, May and June ahead, the Commonwealth has collected $14.697 billion, $343 million or 2.4 percent more than at the same point a year ago, but $87 million shy of the benchmark.

Things you can do from here:

Thursday, April 5, 2012

"adopted lower trash fees"


In the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, there were four major items discussed:

  • the capital budget
  • within it were items for the Library
  • discussion on Fire Dept staffing
  • adoption of the lower trash fee (reduced from $220 to $204)

Part of the Milford Daily News reporting on the meeting:
Town Council also approved funding for library items not on the agenda, unanimously supporting $10,000 for library salaries and $40,000 for library materials, both from the free cash account. 
The move was in anticipation of a state vote tomorrow to reconsider the library’s certification and show that the town financially supports its library, Library Director Felicia Oti said. 
The library lost its certification in February, in part because about 27 percent of its funding was cut in the last budget cycle, said a spokeswoman from the state’s Board of Library Commissioners.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x777661177/Franklin-to-get-new-fire-truck-ambulance#ixzz1r9qp8iNM

In the News - Fire Dept, marathon



Franklin firefighters battle late-night condo fire