One Franklin is a municipal ballot question committee formed by concerned residents. We are dedicated to addressing critical funding needs for essential town services such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. If we do not act, cuts projected around $10 million will be made to current services These cuts will be felt most significantly to our public schools, but also to our Police, Fire and DPW, all of which will not be able to sustain level services if the town does not act NOW.
One Franklin is engaging with and empowering elected leaders to address the demands of our community through transparent dialogue between all departments and residents of Franklin. We are committed to ensuring our Franklin public schools, emergency services and other stressed departments have the resources needed to protect and serve our community.
WHO ARE FRANKLIN'S ELECTED LEADERS WORKING TO SOLVE THIS FINANCIAL DEFICIT?
On March 6, 2024 the Joint Budget Subcommittee met in front of a packed, standing room only audience of residents concerned about the almost $10 million deficit Franklin faces next year, including over $6 million in cuts to our Franklin Public Schools.
Purpose: The Joint Budget Subcommittee promotes communication and collaboration among the three most relevant finance related committees who are involved in the Town's annual operating budget process: Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee.
It is well documented that Franklin budgets and spends conservatively. This has earned Franklin a AAA bond rating for financial management and creditworthiness, and has enabled us to maintain one of the lowest tax rates for residents in the region. The community demands of both emergency services and public education have increased much more than the allowed 2 1/2%.
Things like rising healthcare, and inflation around expenses have far exceeded this allowed increase over the last 16 years. This is stressing our departments. which are unable to fully keep up with demand of our town. Over that time our school district has had to eliminated significant curriculum that will never return, Our public schools have increased class sizes to currently having 25 children in kindergarten classes, our schools have over 100 teachers without professional status due to a large uptick in turnover creating an insecure culture of scarcity difficult to manage, administrators are more difficult to recruit, and the need for counselors and intervention for children continues to climb as schools are asked to do more to assist with the mental health needs of the children of Franklin.
Last year data collected here in Franklin, revealed over 80 attempted suicides at Franklin High and over 60 attempts among 10-13 year olds. The school's need our help. Other departments do not have a lifeline to give. Our Fire Department is handing an unsustainable amount of calls, has a third ambulance that Franklin is looking to staff full time, and we are forced to call-out to surrounding towns for help with our residents. Police are dependent on capital funds for essential equipment. Those capital funds are not for this purpose, and would be better served going toward capital projects such as providing our Police Department with a much needed new building that is adequate to meet their needs.
The last operational override approved by residents of Franklin was 16 years ago, in 2008. The One Franklin initiative was started well before the pandemic started, when residents in town will recall over 100 of our public school teachers standing out on Route 140, in solidarity (more on that below).
When the pandemic of 2020 began, this override effort was put on hold as funding from The "Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund"", also known as ESSER, provided temporary relief due to the pandemic. Over the last year our Town Council and School Committee have spoken at length in public meetings, warning that we must come together to solve this looming deficit because the funds we collect as a town will not sustain current level services. We hear over and over by our Town Council that "the pot is not big enough" and that cuts are inevitable unless the residents decide otherwise. We are those residents trying to educate our friends and neighbors. Some think we have not felt enough pain to show up an vote, but we are going to work as hard as possible to prevent that pain from happening. We hope you will join us by clicking HERE or on the "How Can I Help" tab above.
Let's work together as One Franklin to show we value our town and those who serve our residents!
Based on preliminary numbers, One Franklin supports an override of $9.7 million.
This would increase your ANNUAL taxes by $1.21 per $1000 of your home value.
Franklin's median home value is currently $612,500. Meaning a home of that amount would see an increase of:
$740/year
or
$61/month
or
$2/day
Together we can preserve Franklin's future, and stabilize our school district!
Hundreds march in support of 103 Franklin teachers June 2020 (watch coverage HERE)
Work to develop an override started years ago, and the public school budget deficit has continued to grow. This has resulted in an erosion to the quality of education our children receive. Year after year, other departments have sacrificed to try and bridge the gap, often resulting in tension. We are One Franklin, coming together to solve this once and for all benefits everyone, protects our reputation, and maintains our strong home values and town culture.
One Franklin
Franklin Massachusetts
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