Thread by @FranklinMatters

Getting ready to live report on the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting about to begin at 7 PM tonight #jbsc0308 agenda doc with budget narrative franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/…

One missing from the full joint subcommittee tonight, 4 Councilors, 4 from FinCom and 3 from SchCmte #jbsc0308

Point of the joint subcommittee is to collaborate on the budget and the aspects/nuances within the entirety of the town and schools budget #jbsc0308

Committee charge
franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #jbsc0308

FY23 Budget Update and Discussion -
a. Town Administrator Memo (budget narrative)
franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #jbsc0308 wish list is $5.7M !!! higher than revenue, along with items not in the model as the hole would be deeper. So what gives within the $5.7M to balance?

The work is cut out for this group to begin to resolve the money issue #jbsc0308

Expense assumptions on page 3, (1) 70% or thereabouts is personnel and compensation/benefits #jbsc0308 (2) inflation with increases in electricity, gas, etc. (3) school budget with a request of 4.1% or 2.8m is almost our entire revenue growth

Chair Mercer acknowledges his pet peeve around use of 'side' town side or school side; please use 'side' town or school 'side' we are one town one community one budget #jbsc0308

Out of district placements are a key school cost driver; a cost increase of 14% versus an average of 2-3%, about $750K specific to the school budget #jbsc0308

18% of the student population is 'special ed' which has increased 1 to 2 % this year (coming off the pandemic), other non Special Ed students are also showing increases in requirements for support #jbsc0308

In district special Ed approx costs $30-40k per student, out of district costs can range from $50k to $300k #jbsc0308

Last year's agreement was 2.5% for cost of living contractual increases and schools ended up with 4%, a cost of about $600K #jbsc0308
Health care rate is about 5% with no plan changes for employees

Current school budget doesn't include an increase of fees (sports, clubs, transportation, etc.) #jbsc0308 per pupil cost is 16% less than state average, 80% of the state communities spend more than we do. Per student opportunity act, we are 'held harmless' as we are ...

Already $11M more than the SOA current funding allows, second to Boston #jbsc0308 "we do a lot with what we have" Jamie adds to the list of what Lucas provide, things are really good here in Franklin, recognizing where we want to go is going to take collaboration

The money is not there to do all we need... #jbsc0308 as an industry there is a challenge to find sufficient qualified teachers, teacher salaries were 11 of 12 in the Hockomock League and that is where the increase came from to help address our competitive position

Chair Mercer raises the good question on is the school budget sustainable with the given expense increase? Given the enrollment declines when will we close another school? #jbsc0308 we either find another revenue source (or continue to cut programs)

One possible road is to continue to cut services and not one I like unless others are in the majority, we need to get more in property taxes, either increases in commercial/industrial or residential, we did the residential growth and that's where we are #jbsc0308

Or increase the density in the core and increase our revenue accordingly #jbsc0308 we have the opportunity to build smarter. Redistricting Analysis is underway the prior analysis did not fully account for the in district programs, they use a room at less capacity than a regular

Frongillo wary of a choice to use the school budget as a solution to the town budget and going down that road would change the nature of what we have here. #jbsc0308 we do well with what we have, if we want to accelerate that pace of investment, what is that ask? How do we do it?

Police just lost 3 folks to higher salaries, it is all around, teacher salaries are not the only problem #jbsc0308 we need to better market the municipal environment for work and workers for the future we'll be ok this year but what will we do for the future?

We are one community, one town of Franklin, what will make this work for us? #jbsc0308 motion to adjourn, passes
That's all for tonight catch you next time! (Only issue remaining is when is the next time? There needs to be one)

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