MassBudget: Mid-year solutions and long-term challenges

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Mid-year solutions and long-term challenges   Mid-year budget solutions announced today by the Baker Administration are a combination of temporary fixes and budget cuts. While these steps will help keep the budget balanced through the end of the year, our Commonwealth will continue to face hard choices in next year's budget and in the years ahead. Temporary solutions include using capital gains tax revenue that was supposed to go into the state stabilization fund, implementing a tax amnesty that will reduce tax revenue in future years, and employing cash management strategies at MassHealth that will likely include shifting costs into next year. The 9C cuts implemented by the administration include reducing funding for full-day kindergarten, for mental health services for children and adults, and for state parks (complete list available HERE). "The solutions announced today help balance the budget this year. Seeing 40 year-old trains break down in this week's storms, we are reminded that our biggest challenges are long term," said Noah Berger, President of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. "Without smart investments in our people and our communities we risk lasting harm to our economy and quality of life. In the long term, budget cuts could be balanced with tax reforms that ask our highest income taxpayers, who now pay less of their income in state and local taxes than most people, to pay their fair share."  The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

screen grab of Mass Budget webpage

FHS basketball teams top Sharon, girls hockey ties Ursuline

Ryan Lanigan, editor of Hockomock Sports reports on the FHS vs.Sharon boys basketball game by writing:

It was cold outside, but Franklin was red hot on both ends of the floor, rolling to a 83-46 win over Sharon. 

Senior Markus Bohmiller scored a career-high 28 points, with 22 coming in the first half, as the Panthers built a 25-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. 

“First quarters have been tough for us to be honest,” Franklin head coach CJ Neely said. “It’s something we’ve talked about coming out and doing well. I thought we did a great job defensively, getting in their business and setting the tone right from the beginning. We’ve been playing well in the other quarters but we can’t wait around, we have to get it going early.”

Franklin senior Markus Bohmiller poured in a career-high 28 points on Tuesday night. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Continue reading the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/bohmiller-boosts-franklin-to-blowout-win-over-sharon



Girls Basketball

Franklin, 62 @ Sharon 35 - Final - The Panthers held Sharon to only 15 points through the first three quarters. Eagles coach Cliff Tomassian credited his team for "sticking with it" to score 20 points in the fourth. Ashley Mukasa led the way for Sharon with 17 points, including five three-pointers. 

Girls Hockey

Franklin, 1 @ Ursuline, 1 - Final

These scores were shared from the Hockomock Sports page here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020315

"We need to craft this in a proper way"

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting was reported on the Milford Daily News in part by writing:

A wild, wooded property on Pond Street is bare, save for remnants of a wastewater plant. 

Some town councilors hope years from now, the scene changes, perhaps to a bustling development with a hotel and an office. They also want the revenue that would follow. 

Members of the council's Economic Development Committee on Tuesday discussed details of a request for proposals (RFP) for the 33-acre parcel. The committee is considering placing stipulations in the RFP that would limit the kind of developments allowed there.

Continue reading the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150204/NEWS/150208919/1994/NEWS#sthash.CQAlqzxP.dpuf

Franklin Public Schools: Schools Open Wednesday at Regular Time

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello 

Classes will resume on Wednesday February 4th as scheduled. Emergency transportation will be available for students that typically walk to school (not students who are typically driven to school). 

Please contact your child's school to discuss your arrival/dismissal plan. We need to obtain written permission of a parent/guardian to let children ride the bus. Please contact the administration of each school to discuss your plan. As sidewalks are not plowed this service will be in place for the remainder of the week. 

School parking lots and walkways are plowed however; due to cold temperatures the surface is slippery so please take appropriate precautions. 

For FHS students who drive to school please allow extra time as roads are narrow and speeds should be reduced. There are massive snow piles at intersections so when making a turn use caution and reduce speed. We need to be vigilant as to avoid walkers, runners and other cars. 

Parking at FHS will be limited as the snow piles have reduced the available parking spaces. Carpooling is recommended. 

Thank you to the staff and administration of DPW and Facilities- these individuals worked 24/7 to maintain the roads and make sure the community was safe. Often their dedication and commitment goes unnoticed but their efforts are appreciated. 

As we anticipate more snow before we see the tulips we appreciate your collaboration and assistance as we negotiate this winter. 

For your information: With these two additional snow days the last day of school is now June 25th - this leaves 3 days for additional snow closures before looking at reducing vacation periods. If we need to use vacation time it will be the April vacation.

NH, Maine ski country? No, Franklin, MA....

This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.

Calling all teens! - Lion's Heart enrollment is now OPEN

Enroll with Lion's Heart

* Experience working with a team of your peers 

* Select your own charities to volunteer with 

* Connect with others to make a difference 

* Focus on serving the community; no fundraising 

* Gain leadership training and experience 

* Earn college resume credit 

* Qualify for scholarships and earn awards

screen grab of Lion's Heart webpage

For more information please visit www.lionsheartservice.org or email Allison at allison.bernhardt@lionsheartservice.org

Franklin Art Association: Scholarship Opportunity 2015

The Franklin Art Association is pleased to offer a $1,000 scholarship for a graduating high school senior who lives in Franklin, or attends high school in Franklin, or is a member of the Franklin Art Association, or the child or grandchild of a current member, and intends to continue his or her education in the field of art. 

Each applicant must submit a student portfolio, teacher's letter of recommendation, a transcript of high school grades and a completed application.  

More details will be provided on the application.  Applications are available in the guidance department at 

• Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street, Franklin MA 02038 

All submissions must be dropped off at the Franklin High School by Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 2:30 pm. 

Franklin Art Association

Questions may be directed to:

Tina Guarino - tinaguarinoart@gmail.com
Scholarship Committee Chairperson

"they hope their input doesn't fall on deaf ears"

The Economic Development committee meets to discuss and decide on revisions to the Pond St Request for Proposal (RFP).  The RFP would be revised and posted to allow proposals on how the for sewer bed property would be developed. If one of the proposals meet the desires of the Town Council the land could be sold.

The Pond St neighbors would like to get their say in what restrictions would be imposed on the developer to help preserve the area.

The meeting will be held in the 3rd Floor Training Room at the Municipal building on East Central St.  The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:30 PM.

Area residents voiced concern over the amount of condos or apartments that the town would allow a developer to build. 

Up to 14 units are permitted now, and Bissanti admitted he does not see that number changing. 

"I just don’t want the guts torn out of the RFP," he said. "That may happen if we play around too much with the density limits." 

He and other town officials hope this will be the last time they'll need to put out a Pond Street RFP. They are encouraging residents to attend Tuesday's meeting and upcoming meetings with the Planning Board and council to pitch possible traffic improvements to busy Pond Street, such as lights or islands.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150203/NEWS/150209365/1994/NEWS#sthash.i88hBBXX.dpuf

Franklin Municpal Building, site of the EDC meeting Tuesday evening

Live reported notes from the Jan 7th meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting-public-hearing-pond-st.html

The audio recording of the public hearing at the Town Council meeting on the 7th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/fm-107-pond-st-zoning-bylaw-discussion.html

Live reported notes from the second Town Council meeting in January
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting-legislation.html