MassBudget: How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States -- and Context

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States-- and Context  A wide variety of factors influence where businesses locate and whether they thrive in a given state. These factors include the quality of a state's infrastructure, the skills of its workforce, the proximity to materials and customers, and the overall quality of life available to employees. Tax policy also plays a role, though not a primary one. This is not surprising given that state and local taxes account for as little as two percent of total business costs for the average corporation operating in the U.S. There is strong evidence that the most important factor influencing the strength of a state economy is the level of education of the workforce. When comparing business taxes among the 50 states it is important to consider the entire tax system in each state. Some states collect more revenue from businesses through the property taxes (typically a local tax), while other states rely more heavily on corporate income taxes, gross receipts and excise taxes, or general sales taxes (typically state-level taxes). An apples-to-apples comparison of total business tax levels in different states therefore must account for all of the ways that state and local governments collect taxes from businesses. It should also account for the size of a state's economy. The Council on State Taxation (COST) is a nonprofit trade association consisting of more than 600 multistate corporations engaged in interstate and international business that produces an annual report examining the taxation of businesses in each state. The report accounts for all state and local taxes and finds that Massachusetts is a relatively low tax state for business: business taxes as a percent of total state economic output (Gross State Product) are lower in Massachusetts than in 38 states and higher than just 11. MassBudget's fact sheet How Do Massachusetts Business Taxes Compare to Other States? examines the findings of this report and related data. To read the full report, please click HERE. 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 MassBudget: How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States -- and Context

FSPA To Present 'How To Audition' Workshop

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) Director Raye Lynn Mercer will lead a How to Audition Workshop on Saturday, September 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the school’s Recital Hall at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin. The workshop is open to the community. 

Students and parents are invited to learn about the audition process in an entertaining and interactive format, with demonstrations and time for questions. The workshop will explore what to expect, ways to prepare, and how to make a positive impression at any audition. Recommended for all beginner and intermediate performers, the session is beneficial at many stages of the process, whether students are preparing for a first audition or seeking to raise the level of their audition presentation.

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA)

Founded by Mercer in 1985, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts celebrates 30 years of quality arts education in music, dance and drama. The school’s alumni credits include Broadway, national Broadway tours, American Idol, cruise line casts, film, television and regional theater. Broadway In Boston has cast FSPA students in the Boston run of national tours of Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Showboat.

Mercer and her FSPA staff annually prepare high school seniors for college and conservatory auditions, with placement at such prestigious programs as Baldwin Wallace University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Eastman School of Music, Elon University, Emerson College, Hartt School of Music, Ithaca College, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, Pace University, Pennsylvania State University, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London), Syracuse University, and University of Miami (Frost School of Music).

The workshop fee is $20 per person or $30 for student and parent, with a cost of $5 for each additional child or family member. To register, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668 or visit the main office at 38 Main Street.

In the News: GMO food labeling law, Tri-County kids group, cub scouting registration, Solar Challenge extended

Before eating an ear of sweet corn on the cob or opening a package of cookies from the grocery store, do you want to know if it contains genetically modified organisms? 

With science now allowing for crops to be genetically manipulated to better tolerate herbicides and produce their own insecticides, a growing group of advocates and legislators want to let consumers know if there are GMOs in their food. 

The group Citizens for GMO Labeling is gearing up for a big hearing at the Statehouse next Tuesday on a bill that 75 percent of the Legislature is co-sponsoring.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150917086/1994/NEWS

The Tri-County Regional Children’s Center, 147 Pond St., seeks to fill openings in its weekly toddler playgroup. 

The Toddler Program is open to children who are between 18 months and 30 months by Oct. 1. 

Sessions are held on Mondays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Parents or caregivers are required to stay during the toddler session. The cost of the Toddler Program is $8 per week.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916839/1994/NEWS

Franklin Cub Scouts are now accepting registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Cub Scouts is for boys grades 1-5. 

A registration event to learn more about scouting and join in on some scouting activities is set for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-4 p.m., at the King Street baseball field in Franklin. 

At 2 p.m. there will be a live entertainment event.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150915/NEWS/150917474/1994/NEWS

Officials announced this week that the Franklin Solar Challenge had been extended for a month to encourage as many residents as possible to sign up for solar systems. 

The challenge's original deadline was Tuesday, but it has been extended until Oct. 15. 

Town Councilor Brett Feldman, who coordinates the challenge, said he felt it was appropriate to extend the program given the interest. 

"We still have people thinking over existing proposals, so we wanted to give them more time," he said. "Also, when you're near a deadline, you start to get new interest, so we wanted to accommodate that."

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916685/1994/NEWS

Franklin Solar Challenge: Program Extension!

Program Extended! You now have until Oct. 15th to receive the lowest tiered pricing in the Franklin Solar Challenge 47 Franklin residents are already saving approximately $2,350* off of the cost of their system at Tier 5 pricing. That means we have already contracted 381 kW. Let's keep it going and make it to Tier 6 (400 kW) Only 19 kW to go! *based on an average 5 kW system SolarFlair will donate a 5 kW system in Franklin when we reach Tier 6! Take advantage of tiered pricing while you still can! If you have already signed a contract remind your friends and neighbors of the deadline.  If you've already had a site assessment and are still considering solar energy, please contact your sales representative to get your questions answered and a contract signed by October 15! Residents in Franklin are already taking advantage and saving on prices 25-35% below market value! click here to sign up for a FREE site assessment SolarFlair Energy Inc 190 Pleasant Street Ashland, Massachusetts 01721 franklinsolar@solarflair.com 508-293-4293

Forward this email SolarFlair Energy Inc | 190 Pleasant Street | Ashland | MA | 01721

Partnership Networking Luncheon Friday - Sep 18th

Networking Luncheon Friday at 1 p.m.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership 
Networking Luncheon

Friday, September 18, at 1 p.m. at

Dean College's Smith Dining Center.

Enjoy good conversation, meet other professionals, and share ideas while sampling the delicious and affordable lunch offerings at the Smith Dining Center.

Please RSVP to event coordinators Dave Drucker, ddrucker@dean.edu, or Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com.

MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women - inaugural public hearing - Sep 30

The MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women (MWCSW) holds its inaugural public hearing on Wednesday, September 30th 2015, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Mass Bay Community College in the Framingham Auditorium, 19 Flagg Drive, Framingham.

The MWCSW invites all residents and community leaders to attend and speak about the issues facing women and girls in the MetroWest. "We need to hear first-hand about the concerns and challenges affecting the lives of these women and girls in the region. We want to discuss them as a community in order to begin to see a better way forward," said Denise Schultz, Chair, MWCSW.

MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women (MWCSW)

Oral and written testimony will be accepted. To submit testimony before the hearing, email the Commission at metrowestwomen@gmail.com. The MWCSW will report its findings and recommended solutions to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. 

The MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women was created through legislation sponsored by State Senator Karen Spilka and established on January 8, 2015. The MWCSW is comprised of nine volunteer Commissioners who are charged with identifying the challenges that women face in MetroWest communities and working at the local level to address these challenges.

For more information, email metrowestwomen@gmail.com or contact Denise Schultz, Chair, at 508-612-5950. Those planning to attend are encouraged to submit their testimony before the hearing. 

Testimony, comments, and RSVPs will be accepted on the Commission’s FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/MetrowestCommissionStatusWomen, via tweet @WomenMetroWest, or by email.

MassBudget: Licenses for Immigrant Drivers in Massachusetts

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Licenses for Immigrant Drivers in Massachusetts  Aiming to improve public safety and allow more people to participate effectively in their economies, eleven states and D.C. currently provide drivers licenses for qualified residents regardless of immigration status. MassBudget's new factsheet Licenses for Immigrant Drivers in Massachusetts examines fiscal, economic and safety implications of expanding access to driver's licenses for immigrants who are currently ineligible to be licensed to drive in Massachusetts.  This fact sheet also examines implantation issues that have arisen in other states and describes how states have addressed challenges related to verifying the identity of people applying for licenses from a wide range of different countries. To read the full factsheet, please click HERE. 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

FPAC Announces Open Auditions For The Nutcracker

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will hold open auditions for Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet, The Nutcracker, on Sunday, September 20. Students, ages 6 and older, from all area dance schools are welcome. Auditions will take place at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. Ballet attire is required.  

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC)

Audition times are 9:30-10:00 a.m. for ages 6 and 7, 10:00-10:45 for ages 8 and 9, 11:00-11:45 for ages 10 and 11, 11:45-12:45 for ages 12 and 13, 1:00-2:00 for ages 14+ (off pointe), and 2:45-3:45 for ages 12+ (pointe audition; must be on pointe for at least one year). Off-pointe callbacks are scheduled at 2:00-2:30 p.m., with pointe callbacks from 3:45-4:45. 

Presented with live professional orchestra, FPAC’s magical journey of The Nutcracker features more than 100 area dancers and special guest artists. The production remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season, a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. The Nutcracker will be performed on December 5 and 6 at the Franklin High School auditorium as part of FPAC’s 25th anniversary season. 

For more information, call (508) 528-3370 or visit online at www.FPAConline.com.

FHS Golf: King Philip, 159 @ Franklin, 171

From Hockomock Sports we share the results of the FHS golf match on Tuesday, Sep 15

King Philip, 159 @ Franklin, 171 – Final

– King Philip’s Sebastian Ladoulis played the last seven holes at two under par to finish with a match low 36 while Mickey Riley carded a 39. Franklin freshman Matt D’Errico, senior Matt Dao and sophomore Bryan Woelfel each shot a 42.

FHS Panthers

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday's light schedule
http://www.hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-091515/

In the News: election papers due today, 3rd OUI for Franklin Man

Wednesday is the deadline to file papers to be included on the ballot for the Nov. 3 town election. 

In all, 42 candidates took out papers to run for local office before the Monday deadline to do so passed. Nine of those candidates had not returned those papers as of the end of the day Monday, and two had withdrawn their names from consideration.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150915/NEWS/150917286/1994/NEWS

A Franklin man was drunk when he drove on several streets without using his headlights on Saturday, police said. 

Julio Rabelo, 55, admitted to police he was drinking before he was pulled over on Bishop Street at 1:09 a.m., police spokesman Lt. Stephen Cronin said. 

“He admitted to having four beers in a period of 20 minutes,” Cronin said.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150914/NEWS/150917810/1994/NEWS

Real time reporting: Planning Board - Sep 14, 2015

I did real time reporting and my Storify summary can be found here

screen grab of 150 Emmons property proposed layout

Updated: Candidates for the Franklin Election on Nov 3

As of Monday, Sep 14 the last day to take out papers.

No new names on the listing. One additional candidate withdrew from consideration for the School Committee. Assuming all the papers remaining are returned and certified we would have 8 candidates for 7 positions.

The papers are due back to the Town Clerk's office on Wednesday, Sep 16


The current listing of all those with papers taken out.

POSITION	NAME	Total
Assessor	Donna Greenwood
	Thomas P. Gleavy
	W.Kenneth  Norman
Assessor Total		3
Bd. Of Health	Donald G. Ranieri, Jr.
	Gail P. Chirdon
	Philip M. Brunelli
	Tara E. Gurge
Bd. Of Health Total		4
Constable	Daniel J. McCahill
	John S. Power
	Philip M. Brunelli
Constable Total		3
Planning Bd	Gregory Giardino
	Gregory T. Rondeau
	John F. Carroll
	Mikel G. DeFrancesco
	William D. David
Planning Bd Total		5
School Com.	Anne K. Bergen
	Cynthia J. Douglas
	Denise L. Schultz
	John S. Jewell, PHD
	Kevin P. O'Malley
	Mary Jane Scofield
	Trevor A. Clement
	Vanessa A. Bilello
School Com. Total		8
Town Clerk	Diane M. Padula-O'Neill
	Elizabeth F. Simon
	Paul J. Cheli
	Teresa M. Burr
Town Clerk Total		4
Town Council	Andrew M. Bissanti
	Brett S. Feldman
	Deborah L. Pellegri
	Glenn F. Jones
	James D. Schultz, Jr.
	James V. Gianotti, Jr.
	Judith Pond Pfeffer
	Matthew T. Kelly
	Peter E. Padula
	Richard W. Power, Sr.
	Robert D. Dellorco
	Robert R. Vallee
	Sean P. Slater
	Thomas D. Mercer
Town Council Total		14

Franklin Town Common

The "election collection" can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/08/election-collection-nov-3-2015.html

Progressive Dinner: Deadline for tickets is Sept. 16

Note:  There is also a Gluten free option available....

Downtown Partnership - Progressive Dinner - Sep 27

For convenience, you can get your progressive 'dinner flight' tickets here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franklin-downtown-partnership-progressive-dinner-tickets-18319948459?ref=elink

FHS Alumni still busy on the athletic fields

When high school athletes move on to college, it can be hard to keep track of them other than through the family connection. Hockomock Sports has their radar working big time to publish at least weekly a round up of sports action with former Hockomock League players.

FHS Panthers

Franklin alumni mentioned in this edition

• Colton Cardinal
• Brandon Eccher
• Joe Kalil
• Kristi Kirshe
• Shay Feeley
• Alicia Wilde
• Samantha Rondeau

Take a look at the recent edition of the Campus Report

http://www.hockomocksports.com/the-campus-report-franklin-alum-shine-bright/

'Lost In Yonkers' Opens FPAC’s 25th Season

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) kicks off a milestone 25th anniversary season with Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Lost in Yonkers, on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. Directed by Nick Paone, FPAC’s production will be staged at THE BLACK BOX, the company’s new home and performance venue, located at 15 West Central Street in downtown Franklin.

Winner of the 1991 Tony and Drama Desk awards, Lost in Yonkers is a deeply moving and beautifully crafted coming-of-age story. Striking a balance between pain and humor, drama and comedy, Simon’s poignant tale draws from his own experiences growing up in New York City. It’s 1942 and financially strapped Eddie has just left his teenage sons, Jay and Arty, in the care of their mentally challenged and childlike Aunt Bella and her stern and embittered mother, Grandma Kurnitz. 

THE BLACK BOX

Eddie takes to the road as a traveling salesman to pay back his debt to a loan shark, having borrowed to cover his late wife’s hospital care. Soon Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum hiding from the mob, moves in. Reeling from the loss of their mom and left to contend with this strange new world in Yonkers, the boys embark on a scheme to make some quick cash and get their dad back. As told through the eyes of the brothers, Lost in Yonkers is a masterful work that’s full of heart.

Following Lost in Yonkers, FPAC presents the devilishly delightful musical comedy, The Addams Family, on October 24, 25, 30 and 31. Serving up an original story based on the iconic characters of legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, the musical features Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandma and Lurch – his famously motley group with a taste for everything macabre. Celebrate a bewitching holiday at THE BLACK BOX, with performances before and after Trick or Treating on Halloween; audiences are invited to come dressed in costume for the 2:00 and 8:30 shows.

FPAC’s holiday season features Tchaikovsky’s world-famous ballet, The Nutcracker, and two original musicals, Snow White and the Seven Elves and ’Tis the Season! Presented with live professional orchestra, FPAC’s magical journey of The Nutcracker showcases more than 100 area dancers and special guest artists. The production remains a highly anticipated and treasured part of the FPAC season – a popular holiday tradition for more than 20 years. FPAC presents The Nutcracker on December 5 and 6 at the Franklin High School auditorium.

FPAC’s original, family-friendly musical, Snow White and the Seven Elves, debuts at THE BLACK BOX on December 11-13. The production follows in the tradition of a British “panto,” a type of show that retells a well-known fairy tale in an exaggerated style filled with audience participation, popular songs, slapstick comedy, jokes, dances and more. ’Tis the Season! is an original large cast musical first presented by FPAC in 1995. The upbeat, jazzy holiday extravaganza features members of the Kenny Hadley Big Band and contemporary arrangements of favorite holiday classics in musical styles including R&B, jazz, rock, Motown, gospel and Broadway. FPAC presents ’Tis the Season! at the Franklin High School auditorium on December 19 and 20.

The remainder of FPAC’s 2015-2016 season, to be announced shortly, will present wide-ranging entertainment, from mainstage musicals and small-cast plays to live music events for audiences of all ages. Founded in 1991, the nonprofit FPAC supports educational arts experiences, quality entertainment and outstanding performance opportunities for professional artists, community performers and students of the arts. With a focus on youth development and a commitment to live music, FPAC productions draw performers and audiences from more than 100 communities throughout the region. For more information and tickets, call (508) 528-3370 or visit online at www.FPAConline.com or www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com.