Frequently Asked Questions

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The language stated on the override ballot will state the overall override amount - and may (or may not) break out specific amounts for specific departments for the 2026 fiscal year.  (Under Massachusetts law, an override ballot question may not specify use of funds beyond one year.)  

Whether or not the ballot question specifies an allocation of the override funds, the funds will be used to fund the municipal and school budgets as publicly disclosed and discussed in advance of the override vote.  Each year, the town's Finance Committee scrutinizes the budget, including department allocations.  Going forward, any significant deviation from prior year expenditures will be questioned and discussed.  These meetings are all open to the public.

We have reached a point where the town does not have enough revenue to adequately fund the budget and provide the services to which we, the citizens of Franklin, have become accustomed.   While it is true that the town took $1 million from its stabilization funds following the failed override last year, this money must be replenished - we can't continue to deplete the fund.  In addition, despite the additional funds, the schools still were forced to raise fees on buses and athletics and cut a number of programs - theater and music programs were particularly decimated. The municipal side also cut various personnel and expenses.

 A public school is the most democratic institution in the world; it is the institution through which the great majority of children are brought to a recognition of their own worth and the value of others. 

— Horace Mann, Seventh Annual Report to the Massachusetts Board of Education (1844)

As the hometown of Horace Mann, known as the "Father of American Public Education," Franklin’s Public Schools have a longstanding tradition of valuing accessible and quality education for all. Mann fought tirelessly for public education that would be open to every child, regardless of background, and believed education was vital to the moral and intellectual development of our society. Continuing to underfund our schools goes against his foundational belief that education should be a priority in every community. By investing in FPS, we honor Mann's vision and ensure that every child in Franklin receives the education they deserve.

When people suggest schools should just "tighten their belts," they often forget that schools have already been tightening their belts for years and overlook the long-standing effects of underfunding. There are no more holes left to tighten.

Here are some of the budget drivers and  consequences of underfunding schools:

• Increased Costs and Inflation: Over the years, costs for essential resources like textbooks, technology, transportation, and even basic supplies have risen with inflation. Simply tightening belts doesn’t account for these increases, and the financial pressure on FPS only grows as these costs outpace budget constraints.
• Teacher Retention and Recruitment: Underfunded schools, like FPS, often struggle to attract and retain high-quality educators due to lower salaries, inadequate professional development opportunities, and poor working conditions. Cutting budgets further can exacerbate teacher burnout and increase turnover, which negatively impacts students - and ultimately costs more.
• Legal and Ethical Obligations: FPS has legal obligations to provide a certain standard of education and support services. Cutting budgets further may violate these obligations and lead to legal challenges, which cost a fortune.
• Community Investment: Investing in FPS benefits the entire community by producing educated citizens who contribute positively to society, drive economic growth, and foster civic engagement.
• Parental and Community Support: Tightening belts can lead to a decrease in morale, both among staff and within the community. Families and communities often expect FPS to provide enriching programs, extracurricular activities, and diverse learning opportunities, which are difficult to maintain when funding is limited.
• Long-term Underinvestment: FPS has been underfunded for decades, leading to deferred maintenance, outdated resources, and overburdened staff. Tightening belts further risks compromising essential services like special education, extracurricular activities, enrichment for accelerated students, and support for struggling students, among other things.
• Impact on Learning Environment: Tight budgets mean larger class sizes, fewer support staff, outdated technology, and inadequate facilities. These factors directly affect students' ability to learn effectively and teachers' ability to teach, creating students who are behind the curve in our highly competitive world.
• Unfunded Mandates: Schools like FPS are often required to implement state and federal mandates without receiving the necessary funding to do so. These mandates — ranging from special education services to standardized testing — place additional financial strain on already underfunded schools. Without adequate funding, these mandates can stretch resources even thinner, forcing schools to choose between meeting legal obligations and providing quality education.
• Economic and Social Consequences: Investing in education is crucial for the future workforce and community well-being. Quality education reduces crime rates, enhances economic productivity, and fosters a skilled workforce.
• Equity and Access: Tightening budgets disproportionately affects schools serving low-income families, including FPS, widening the achievement gap and perpetuating inequality. 

The town works within an Operating Budget to cover recurring expenses like employee compensation, utilities, etc.  As the year progresses, any savings in the Operational Budget (staff vacancies for example) help to accumulate the town’s “free cash” amount. Each department may have a need for one-time expense items that are not included in their Operating budget.   Capital requests are reviewed and approved twice a year and funded by free cash.  Some examples of Capital requests are: computer and networking equipment, DPW and Facilities equipment, leasehold improvements on buildings, etc. 

Redistricting is definitely a cost-saver, saving the town approximately $3 million in fiscal 2026.  However, due to inflation, the increased cost of a number of services, and the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, among other things, the town’s expenses are increasing by more than 2.5%.  The money saved by redistricting helps, but is not enough.   

Franklin’s structural deficit is caused by uncontrollable expenses growing faster than the tax levy increase limit of 2.5%.  Every department is affected by the structural deficit.   One example is health insurance premiums which are projected to grow 14.5%.  Health insurance premiums  affect all departments, not just the schools.   

This is the way the town has traditionally budgeted.  The only difference it makes is when folks compare an  annual increase in the school budget versus an annual increase in an individual municipal department's budget.  So, the school budget might increase by 3.6%, but if 1% of this increase is attributable to increased health insurance costs, then the budget is really only increasing 2.6% for purposes of comparing to the budget increases of other departments.

It is important for people to understand that declining enrollment in no way impacts the

bottom line; reductions in positions are always implemented when enrollment numbers

fluctuate. It is the soaring increases in insurance, technology, transportation, special

needs (especially in dealing with the national mental health epidemic and the emotional

and behavioral consequences playing out in our schools) that are fueling costs and so

dramatically impacting the quality of our schools today.

 Our town does participate in grant programs as applicable.  Grants are typically available for one time expenses and are not a sustainable solution to our structural deficit. The schools are planned to get $1.9M from grants in FY26. The Franklin Fire Department was also awarded $594,654 from the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in 2024. 

 The State provides Chapter 70  funding to all schools through an allocation model based on income and real estate values.  Franklin’s allocation is $17 million, however, we receive $29 million because of a “hold harmless” clause that kept our funding from decreasing when the allocation model changed.  Because we receive $12 million over our calculated amount, it is not likely that we will receive any additional funding from the State.

The town has financial assistance programs available for those who qualify.  See the "Financial Impact - Financial Assistance" page on this website.