FM #1205 - Finance Cmte - Budget Hearing 3rd and Final for FY 2025 - 05/15/24

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee conducted their 3rd and final budget hearing on the FY 2025 budget on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Seven of the nine members of the Committee participated, one remotely, so all the votes were via roll call.  

Quick recap:

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen briefly covered the Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie budget items. Their representatives were unable to participate this year.
• Franklin School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Business Administrator Dr Dutch, and School Committee Vice-Chair Dave McNeill presented from the table. Asst Supt Paula Marano provided updates on special education programs and answered those questions
• As the budget has been presented a number of times, there was an attempt to provide the "readers digest" version, and they were mostly successful.
• Some changes noted:
• They did provide an update on the migrant funding from DESE, a check for $335K+ was just received and another to account for the 72 students currently in the system is expected in June. These funds can only be used to support the migrant students and are not in the budget
• The transportation increased projected earlier at 1100 was reduced to $500 per student and to compensate, the number of FTEs potentially laid off would increase from 30 to 47
• They also presented an outlook on the funding to be allocated assuming the override does pass. The schools would get the $6.3M in the first year, and then $4M plus in each succeeding year 
• The committee then votes to approve the series of resolutions to provide the fund accounting for the budget. Only one vote received a "no", all others passed by the 7-0-2 (7 for, 0 against, 2 absent)
• Water rate increase was approved for the next 2 years (Council still needs to approve)
• Curbside pickup rate increase approved (Council still needs to approve)
• Stormwater fee increase approved (Council still needs to approve)

The recording runs about 2 hours & 34 minutes, so let’s listen in.

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

The meeting agenda ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-05-15_finance_committee_agenda_packet.pdf 

Franklin TV video replay available on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nQoCPNfd4A&t=53s 

My notes in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1glI98EwFQFhgMW0OFeAJ6ZrSFGBxMusm/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos of the presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/3wrikZJytiS2QUbV6 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"