I am concerned about the future of Franklin.
All the town departments from the DPW, to the library, through to the schools all have a 4, 5 or 6 year plan for what they anticipate they would need in the future. These plans were referenced during the capital budget discussions at the Finance Committee meeting on Monday (4/30/07). All these departments were applauded by the Finance Committee for coming up with such substantial detail to support their individual plans.
The Finance Committee made its recommendations on the budget to the Town Council. The Town Council chose to change the recommendations.
Hence, the residents of Franklin do not have an option to vote for a level service budget. We only get to inflict pain and suffering upon the entire town in order to pass the first override. And there will be additional overrides. How many is hard to say. No one has an answer for this question.
Yet, if the planning is done at the department level, worked through with the Town Administrator, gets discussed and “blessed” by the Finance Committee, and then the Town Council decides to do something different. Where is the problem?
When will the Town Council come up with and tell the Franklin voters what the 3, 4 or 5 year plan is?
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Franklin's broke, needs to vote
So let me try and recap the override situation:
The town budget takes multiple hits, one rather visible hit reduces the library to 4 days operation. This step kicks in a sequence of events that come next year will remove the capability of obtaining a book via the interlibrary loan system. Not because of the Minuteman system itself, but due to each communities local administration removing this service from members of communities that are in financial trouble.
Franklin is already operating at a reduced fire department. Per national standard, Franklin should have 60 and we have 48.
Franklin is also operating at a reduced police department. Per national standard, Franklin should have 61 and we have 46.
The Department of Public Works gets to continue operating keeping things together with equipment that according to most standard replacement cycles should already have been replaced but won’t be this year.
Franklin’s seniors will get to look at the new Senior Center under construction on Oak Street. Oh, and unless something significant changes, that is all they will be able to do, look. The capital budget was approved to build the facility. There is no money to actually open it and operate it.
Franklin's debt is well managed. In the last seven years, the debt as a percent of the total budget has increased less than 1 full percent (actually 0.9%). The debt service increases only $166,000 on the $80 odd million budget. The debt is not a significant factor in Franklin’s problem. To put this in perspective, if you were to try to obtain a mortgage to purchase a house, the bank or lenders generally won’t let the individuals loan amount exceed 30% of their income. Franklin debt is only 2.7%.
The schools will lose approximately 29 people, primarily teachers, even if the override passes. If the override fails, the amount of people losing their positions grows to approx. 76. Yes, there are want ads in the Boston Globe because while some positions are being eliminated, there are other people who may also be retiring or being replaced that those whose positions are being cut may not be able to switch over and cover the position.
If the override fails, the busing fees will increase dramatically. Currently the town pays about half what it costs to bus a student. The parent/family would have to pick up the total cost.
School sports fees will increase from the current $100 per sport per season to approx $400.
The Music program in the elementary and middle school levels would be reduced.
None of these are good situations. These are all harsh choices.
You, Franklin voters need to decide what you want for the town.
Vote May 22
The town budget takes multiple hits, one rather visible hit reduces the library to 4 days operation. This step kicks in a sequence of events that come next year will remove the capability of obtaining a book via the interlibrary loan system. Not because of the Minuteman system itself, but due to each communities local administration removing this service from members of communities that are in financial trouble.
Franklin is already operating at a reduced fire department. Per national standard, Franklin should have 60 and we have 48.
Franklin is also operating at a reduced police department. Per national standard, Franklin should have 61 and we have 46.
The Department of Public Works gets to continue operating keeping things together with equipment that according to most standard replacement cycles should already have been replaced but won’t be this year.
Franklin’s seniors will get to look at the new Senior Center under construction on Oak Street. Oh, and unless something significant changes, that is all they will be able to do, look. The capital budget was approved to build the facility. There is no money to actually open it and operate it.
Franklin's debt is well managed. In the last seven years, the debt as a percent of the total budget has increased less than 1 full percent (actually 0.9%). The debt service increases only $166,000 on the $80 odd million budget. The debt is not a significant factor in Franklin’s problem. To put this in perspective, if you were to try to obtain a mortgage to purchase a house, the bank or lenders generally won’t let the individuals loan amount exceed 30% of their income. Franklin debt is only 2.7%.
The schools will lose approximately 29 people, primarily teachers, even if the override passes. If the override fails, the amount of people losing their positions grows to approx. 76. Yes, there are want ads in the Boston Globe because while some positions are being eliminated, there are other people who may also be retiring or being replaced that those whose positions are being cut may not be able to switch over and cover the position.
If the override fails, the busing fees will increase dramatically. Currently the town pays about half what it costs to bus a student. The parent/family would have to pick up the total cost.
School sports fees will increase from the current $100 per sport per season to approx $400.
The Music program in the elementary and middle school levels would be reduced.
None of these are good situations. These are all harsh choices.
You, Franklin voters need to decide what you want for the town.
Vote May 22
Information Session in the Milford Daily News
Michael Morton, reporter for the Milford Daily News, filed his article after attending the Override Information Session on Tuesday night.
You can read the details here.
You can read the details here.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Override Info Session Recap
The Override Information Session was well attended on Tuesday night, May 1.
The front table held representatives from the Town Council, the Finance Committee, the School Committee, and the School Administration. It was an impressive array of town officials and board members (many of whom are volunteers) to come forward to speak on the reasons for the budget numbers driving the override.
The school presentation can be found here.
The summary of the tax rate comparison that Steve Whelan of the Finance Committee talked to can be found here.
When I find a link to Jeff Nutting's presentation, I'll update and include that here as well. The copy is now available here (PDF)
Many members of the community; parents, students, and a couple of teachers stepped forward after the initial presentations to ask clarifying questions or to make statements.
All of the student comments were very well done. These students are something Franklin can be proud of.
This is one major reason why the information session was so important. If you are not fully aware of the what's and the why's, catch the session on cable TV when it is replayed. Or if that is not an option, let me know. I will try to explain.
Bottom line:
If you are not registered to vote, you have until 8:00 PM on May 2nd to register with the Town Clerk.
If you are going to be out of town on May 22nd, you can obtain an absentee ballot from the Town Clark's office.
Your duty is to be informed and cast an informed vote on May 22!
The front table held representatives from the Town Council, the Finance Committee, the School Committee, and the School Administration. It was an impressive array of town officials and board members (many of whom are volunteers) to come forward to speak on the reasons for the budget numbers driving the override.
The school presentation can be found here.
The summary of the tax rate comparison that Steve Whelan of the Finance Committee talked to can be found here.
When I find a link to Jeff Nutting's presentation, I'll update and include that here as well. The copy is now available here (PDF)
Many members of the community; parents, students, and a couple of teachers stepped forward after the initial presentations to ask clarifying questions or to make statements.
All of the student comments were very well done. These students are something Franklin can be proud of.
This is one major reason why the information session was so important. If you are not fully aware of the what's and the why's, catch the session on cable TV when it is replayed. Or if that is not an option, let me know. I will try to explain.
Bottom line:
If you are not registered to vote, you have until 8:00 PM on May 2nd to register with the Town Clerk.
If you are going to be out of town on May 22nd, you can obtain an absentee ballot from the Town Clark's office.
Your duty is to be informed and cast an informed vote on May 22!
Questions for the Information Session
The only other person in the audience Monday night for the Finance Committee (FinCom) meeting that was not a town employee was Michael Morton. Michael is the reporter for the Milford Daily News currently covering the Franklin budget issue.
He posted two article after the meeting. One going into detail on the Library discussion. The second reiterating the needs to Franklin voter participation in the Information Session tonight.
The Library discussion is here.
The Information session is here.
I will be looking for answers to questions such as:
What will the final budget look like?
What will the override get us?
Based upon the FinCom decision, I am not sure what the Town Council is going to do with the budget.
Equally important, while the override this year still does not provide sufficient funds to operate the Town, next year, and the year after appear to be override candidates as well.
Does anyone have a plan to get us out of the hole we are in and get us well?
How do we generate revenue for a self-sustaining operation?
Since half the school budget (and really one quarter of the Town budget) comes from Chapter 70 funds, what plans are there to replace those funds should they go away?
The session will also be broadcast live for those unable to attend in person.
He posted two article after the meeting. One going into detail on the Library discussion. The second reiterating the needs to Franklin voter participation in the Information Session tonight.
The Library discussion is here.
The Information session is here.
I will be looking for answers to questions such as:
What will the final budget look like?
What will the override get us?
Based upon the FinCom decision, I am not sure what the Town Council is going to do with the budget.
Equally important, while the override this year still does not provide sufficient funds to operate the Town, next year, and the year after appear to be override candidates as well.
Does anyone have a plan to get us out of the hole we are in and get us well?
How do we generate revenue for a self-sustaining operation?
Since half the school budget (and really one quarter of the Town budget) comes from Chapter 70 funds, what plans are there to replace those funds should they go away?
Bring your questions (and suggestions) to the Information Session tonight!
Horace Mann Auditorium
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
The session will also be broadcast live for those unable to attend in person.
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